Health and Me

Rachel V Thomas

Long Covid Causes Lasting Brain Inflammation And Lung Injury, Reveals Study

Are you still experiencing brain fog, fatigue, and mood changes even after years of a mild COVID-19 infection? A new study showed that the SARS-CoV-2 virus, behind the COVID infection, can cause persistent brain inflammation and lung injury, according to a study.

Researchers from Tulane University, in Louisiana, US found that the brain inflammation lasts long even after the virus was no longer detectable. 

Their study, published in Frontiers in Immunology, can answer why long COVID often includes neurological symptoms such as brain fog, fatigue, and mood changes.

"Long-term effects on the brain were unique to SARS-CoV-2. That distinction is critical to understanding long COVID," said lead author Dr. Xuebin Qin, professor of microbiology and immunology at the Tulane National Biomedical Research Center. Qin also mentioned "lasting lung injury" among COVID patients.

In a mouse model, the team found that immune cells in the lungs failed to fully stand down and also spiked the buildup of collagen -- a protein associated with scarring.

The changes stiffened lung tissue, making breathing feel more labored -- a possible answer to breathlessness faced by COVID survivors. 

Further, the researchers also noted no repair to the injury, suggesting the virus may interfere with the lung's natural healing process. 

On the other hand, in the brain, the mice with COVID showed signs of persistent brain inflammation weeks later. The team also reported tiny areas of bleeding. 

Conducting a gene expression analysis, the team found ongoing inflammatory signaling and disruption of pathways involved in serotonin and dopamine regulation -- brain functions linked to mood, cognition, and energy levels. 

Long COVID is a collection of symptoms that last three months or longer after your first COVID symptoms. They include fatigue, brain fog, headaches, breathlessness, altered sense of smell or taste, headaches, and more. 

While many of the Long conditions remain to be fully recognized, some people have more than one symptom. 

As per recent data from the World Health Organization, more than 43,000 new cases have been reported from 61 countries, between January and February.

Vaccination that prevents SARS-CoV-2 infection is the most effective way to prevent long COVID. 

Recently, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) recommended a marketing authorisation in the European Union (EU) for mCombriax -- a messenger RNA vaccine for protecting people aged 50 years and older against COVID-19 and seasonal <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health/influenza">influenza</a> (flu).

Co-infection with the influenza virus and SARS-CoV-2 can result in more severe disease than would occur with either SARS-CoV-2 or influenza virus infection alone.

mCombriax works like other vaccines by preparing the body to defend itself against infection. It contains messenger RNA with instructions for making proteins found on SARS-CoV-2 and the following seasonal influenza viruses: influenza type A-H1N1, influenza type A-H3N2, and influenza type B of the Victoria lineage.

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Are you still experiencing brain fog, fatigue, and mood changes even after years of a mild COVID-19 infection? A new study showed that the SARS-CoV-2 virus, behind the COVID infection, can cause persistent brain inflammation and lung injury, according to a study. Researchers from Tulane University, in Louisiana, US found that the brain inflammation lasts long even after the virus was no longer detectable. Their study, published in Frontiers in Immunology, can answer why long COVID often includes neurological symptoms such as brain fog, fatigue, and mood changes. "Long-term effects on the brain were unique to SARS-CoV-2. That distinction is critical to understanding long COVID," said lead author Dr. Xuebin Qin, professor of microbiology and immunology at the Tulane National Biomedical Research Center. Qin also mentioned "lasting lung injury" among COVID patients.In a mouse model, the team found that immune cells in the lungs failed to fully stand down and also spiked the buildup of collagen -- a protein associated with scarring. The changes stiffened lung tissue, making breathing feel more labored -- a possible answer to breathlessness faced by COVID survivors. Further, the researchers also noted no repair to the injury, suggesting the virus may interfere with the lung's natural healing process.  On the other hand, in the brain, the mice with COVID showed signs of persistent brain inflammation weeks later. The team also reported tiny areas of bleeding. Conducting a gene expression analysis, the team found ongoing inflammatory signaling and disruption of pathways involved in serotonin and dopamine regulation -- brain functions linked to mood, cognition, and energy levels. What Is Long COVID?Long COVID is a collection of symptoms that last three months or longer after your first COVID symptoms. They include fatigue, brain fog, headaches, breathlessness, altered sense of smell or taste, headaches, and more. While many of the Long conditions remain to be fully recognized, some people have more than one symptom.  mRNA Vaccine Against COVID As per recent data from the World Health Organization, more than 43,000 new cases have been reported from 61 countries, between January and February.Vaccination that prevents SARS-CoV-2 infection is the most effective way to prevent long COVID.  Recently, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) recommended a marketing authorisation in the European Union (EU) for mCombriax -- a messenger RNA vaccine for protecting people aged 50 years and older against COVID-19 and seasonal influenza (flu).Co-infection with the influenza virus and SARS-CoV-2 can result in more severe disease than would occur with either SARS-CoV-2 or influenza virus infection alone.mCombriax works like other vaccines by preparing the body to defend itself against infection. It contains messenger RNA with instructions for making proteins found on SARS-CoV-2 and the following seasonal influenza viruses: influenza type A-H1N1, influenza type A-H3N2, and influenza type B of the Victoria lineage.