COVID-19 causes a wide range of symptoms, which is one of the challenges of the pandemic. We know the disease damages the lungs, but what about the brain?
COVID-19 symptoms can damage blood vessels involved with all organs, so the symptoms vary by individual.
The top reported symptoms include fatigue and exercise intolerance, where exertion may make a person feel especially tired. For instance, those recovering from COVID may find themselves out of breath after carrying groceries or climbing stairs.
When it comes to the brain, issues with anxiety, depression and difficulty sleeping are also common after COVID. Many notice a loss of taste and smell as part of their response to the virus. These changes are likely to reflect damage to the brain, and often occur with very high levels of brain inflammation. Even those who endure mild to moderate cases of COVID-19, there is evidence that brain cells are damaged. As COVID cases increase in severity, studies suggest the signs of brain injury also increase. In severe cases, small bleeds in the brain are a relatively common finding.
Long-haulers are individuals who have persistent symptoms more than four weeks after their initial diagnosis. In long-haulers, more than 3 out of 4 report issues related to thinking. Even after 6 months, many suffer from brain fog, characterized by difficulty concentrating. Cognitive tests highlight thinking issues. And brain imaging test reveal new evidence of the actual damage.
Some imaging techniques measure how the brain is using energy. Using a type of radioactively-labeled sugar water, imaging scans can show what parts of the brain receive the most blood flow. The images reveal where blood flow is best and where it may be lower than normal in the brain. These images can be compared between those who have and have not tested positive for COVID.
One of the striking findings from these studies was that the front and sides of the brain show much slower metabolism in the long-haulers who complained of cognitive symptoms. This suggests that their brains were unable to maintain healthy blood flow throughout all areas. This was consistent with how they scored on tests that rely on these front and side brain regions. Many of these individuals were aware that their brains and memories were not functioning as usual. They complained of inability to focus even after their sense of smell or taste had returned weeks after their COVID diagnosis.
The good news is that the loss of normal blood flow to specific brain regions appears to be reversible over time. Those who’ve struggled with COVID symptoms are likely to regain brain function. However, it’s unclear exactly how long it may take.
Positively, after 6 months, new scans show that the brain is healing much of the damage. At the same time, levels of brain inflammation appear to be resolving. Direct evidence of brain healing has also been attained from examining the brain of one patient who had been cognitively tested and imaged. The patient unexpectedly died of a non-COVID and non-brain-related cause, so an autopsy could be performed and showed that the brain was recovering.
The need for healthy habits may be more important now then ever, especially for those recovering from COVID. For example, many new studies have emphasized that in the context of the pandemic, there are significant advantages of plant-packed diets, because the antioxidants, vitamins and minerals can support your body and aid healing. Another example highlights the benefits of moving more often, because the importance of regular exercise is indisputable for recovering your fitness. It’s also important that COVID long-haulers embrace a gradual return to exercise, because being easily fatigued means that a typical workout may be too much during recovery.
If you think you may be suffering from long-term symptoms after a bout with COVID, talk to your physician to identify your personal road to recovery. If you are aiming for healthier habits but don’t know exactly where to start, Treo makes eating and activity habits easier to manage and offers empathetic coaching for those seeking an extra layer of accountability. Everyone has a unique goal and plan to achieve health. Treo can support you along the way!
As Treo’s Global Wellness Researcher, Karlie uses recent research findings to support healthier daily habits. Karlie earned her doctorate in Neuroscience and Behavior and bachelors in Health and Exercise Science.
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