A brand new COVID-19 symptom contains the mind shedding grey matter. Illustration by Zoe Peterson, Deseret Information
An an infection from the novel coronavirus might result in main modifications within the mind, together with the lack of grey matter and tissue harm, in accordance with a new giant research.
Driving the information: The research — revealed within the analysis journal Nature — reviewed mind scans from folks from 51 to 81 years previous earlier than and after they have been contaminated with COVID-19.
- About half of the sufferers obtained COVID-19 between scans, per USA As we speak.
- Most of the individuals who obtained COVID-19 misplaced their sense of odor.
What they discovered: The research discovered that there was shrinkage and tissue harm in mind areas associated to sense of odor, in addition to areas related to mind perform.
- The harm doesn't naturally happen with individuals who weren't contaminated with COVID-19, the research stated.
- Those that required hospitalization from their COVID-19 an infection had probably the most mind modifications, in accordance with USA As we speak.
- Older individuals had extra modifications than younger individuals, in accordance with USA As we speak.
Why it issues: This research provides to the rising physique of proof that the novel coronavirus can have an effect on a affected person’s mind, displaying the long-term affect of COVID-19.
What they’re saying: “To me, that is fairly convincing proof that one thing modifications in brains of this general group of individuals with Covid,” Dr. Serena Spudich, chief of neurological infections and world neurology on the Yale Faculty of Medication, informed The New York Occasions.
Sure, however:
The larger image: Dr. George Vavougios, a neuroscientist on the College of Cyprus, informed USA As we speak that the research is an indication medical doctors have to comply with up with their sufferers after infections in regards to the lack of odor and different neurological signs, resembling mind fog.