Talking heads
As it’s revealed Covid-19 can shrink our brains, we find out answers to the most pressing questions
Ah, Covid… the gift that keeps on giving. The latest research into the virus has found that it can cause parts of our brain to shrink. Yes, actually shrink! Dubbed “Covid brain”, the post-viral condition has left sufferers with debilitating symptoms, including brain fog. A major world-first study by the University of Oxford, which compared patients’ MRI scans before and after contracting the virus, has revealed the extent of the shrinkage and tissue damage to the brain.
“We should be worried,” Dr Jeff Foster, a GP at H3 Health, says. “We still know very little about the long-term impact of long Covid. While the effects are reduced in those who are vaccinated, there’s no magic cure once you have it.”
What exactly is Covid brain?
In a nutshell, it affects how your brain works. You might struggle to concentrate, feel confused and think more slowly than usual. There can also be physical issues, such as loss of smell and extreme fatigue.
In technical terms, Dr Foster explains, “Covid brain results in either short or long-term symptoms of altered neurological or psychiatric function.”
Which parts of the brain are affected?
The regions controlling emotion and memory were most affected in Covid patients who took part in the Oxford study.
There was also damage in areas that control our sense of smell, while a very small decline in grey matter (0.7%) was spotted in the cerebellum – which is the area at the back of the brain that helps to control our muscle movements.
Even in mild cases, there were signs of a “worsening of executive function” responsible for focus and organising. On average, patients’ brain sizes shrank between 0.2% and 2%.