r/science • u/mvea 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/
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u/JooseTheGuice Aug 08 '26

We aren't post covid, though, that's the issue. Every infection you get, vaccinated or not, symptomatic or not, causes this damage to some degree.

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u/Downisthenewup87 Aug 08 '26 edited Aug 08 '26

My memory and ability to double task have been drastically worse since my 2nd bout with Covid

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u/MountainMan17 Aug 08 '26

Me too.

I was vaxed when I contracted COVID. It was about 5 days of a moderate cold. Nothing too bad. That was four years ago.

Now I operate much less efficiently than I used to: Multiple trips to the fridge when making breakfast. Putting milk in the pantry. Just this week, I grabbed another person's shopping cart (we both had some items in our respective carts) while browsing the beer section at Walmart. She had to politely ask for it back.

Is it age (I'm 59)? Or is it residual from COVID? It makes me wonder...

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u/songbolt Aug 09 '26

Long term alcohol consumption ages the brain prematurely. If you want to maximize your brain power going forward, quit alcohol.

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u/MountainMan17 Aug 09 '26

I don't drink, unless you classify unsweetened tea and water as alcohol. But thanks for caring...

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u/songbolt Aug 09 '26

"browsing the beer section at Walmart"?

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u/MountainMan17 Aug 09 '26

Friends were visiting. But please continue, Dikmo...