Researchers Suspected Brain Inflammation in Long COVID but Found Something Else

 https://scitechdaily.com/researchers-suspected-brain-inflammation-in-long-covid-but-found-something-else/

Scientists in Finland used advanced imaging techniques to examine the brains of people experiencing long-lasting symptoms after COVID-19 infection. While long COVID has often been linked to lingering inflammation in the brain, the researchers found no evidence of widespread neuroinflammation when comparing patients with long COVID to healthy individuals.

“We did not observe evidence of widespread brain inflammation in patients with long COVID when compared to healthy controls,” says Professor of Neuroimmunology and InFLAMES Research Flagship group leader Laura Airas, who led the study.

According to Airas, the findings indicate that inflammation may be more prominent during the earlier stages of the disease and gradually decline over time.

The researchers say the results add to a growing understanding of long COVID and challenge the idea that persistent brain inflammation is the main cause of prolonged symptoms in all patients.