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I have reported multiple times on research that looked at the impact of COVID-19 on the brain. With some more positive and some more negative. We do know that two-thirds of those hospitalised show neurological symptoms such as fatigue, loss of smell, attention problems, and memory loss
Now the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging has conducted a large-scale review and tracked neurological symptoms and how they developed over time. This helped to understand the underlying causes and complications of these symptoms.
The good news is that all of these symptoms seem to be reversible and are not related to permanent damage in the brain with the obvious exceptions of brain infarcts and brain bleeding. COVID-19 did however unmask or hasten pre-existing conditions.
So, good to know that the vast majority of neurological symptoms of COVID-19 are temporary and will respond well to treatment.
Reference:
Philipp T Meyer, Sabine Hellwig, Ganna Blazhenets, Jonas A Hosp.
Molecular imaging findings on acute and long-term effects of COVID-19 on the brain: A systematic review.
Journal of Nuclear Medicine, 2022; jnumed.121.263085
DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.121.263085
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Andy is author of leading brains Review a monthly e-magazine on all things the brain, behaviour, and business.
