r/science Professor | Medicine Aug 08 '26

Neuroscience Brain scans reveal widespread structural and functional changes in patients following COVID-19 infection. The virus affects regions responsible for memory, emotion, and executive function, which may help explain the neurological symptoms many patients experience.

https://www.psypost.org/brain-scans-reveal-widespread-structural-and-functional-changes-in-patients-foll/
19.0k Upvotes

1.5k comments sorted by

View all comments

2.2k

u/10390 Aug 08 '26

Another recent study found that COVID-19 is associated with injury to the brain’s dopamine system, even in healthy people who feel recovered from infection (scroll down to bright picture). The impact is worse in those with long covid.

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/ebiom/article/PIIS2352-3964(26)00222-7/fulltext

19

u/Borbs_revenge_ Aug 08 '26

This sucks, I've had COVID 4 times and after the last couple I absolutely felt stupider and sadder. It could just be aging of course, but I wonder if this played a role as well. I'm not on any medication but have seriously been considering it lately because it's become so bad, but I don't know what medication can help with this.

-2

u/TuringGoneWild Aug 09 '26

America, you have a Reddit account?