Study Reveals Brainstem Damage Linked to Long-Lasting Covid Symptoms

A recent study has identified damage to the brainstem—the brain’s control center—as a key factor behind the enduring physical and psychiatric effects of severe Covid-19 infections.

Researchers from the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford utilized ultra-high-resolution scanners to examine the brains of 30 patients who were hospitalized with severe Covid-19 early in the pandemic. Their findings, published in the journal Brain, highlighted how SARS-CoV-2 impacts brainstem regions associated with symptoms like breathlessness, fatigue, and anxiety.

“The brainstem acts as a critical junction between our conscious awareness and bodily functions,” said Professor James Rowe from the Department of Clinical Neurosciences, a co-leader of the research. “Understanding how the brainstem is altered in response to Covid will enhance our ability to explain and treat its long-term effects.”

Among the troubling long-term symptoms reported by hospitalized patients were fatigue, breathlessness, and chest pain. The research team hypothesized that these issues were partially due to damage in vital brainstem nuclei that lingers well after the infection has resolved.

The study revealed abnormalities in several brainstem regions, including the medulla oblongata, pons, and midbrain, consistent with a neuroinflammatory response. These changes were observed several weeks post-hospital admission, particularly in areas responsible for regulating breathing. Additionally, alterations in the brainstem were linked to increased depression and anxiety among Covid survivors.

Dr. Catarina Rua from the Department of Clinical Neurosciences noted that these effects were significant regardless of age and gender and were more pronounced in individuals who experienced severe Covid-19.

The research may also shed light on other conditions related to brainstem inflammation, such as multiple sclerosis and dementia, the team concluded.