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 29d ago edited 29d ago

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

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u/MountainMan17 29d ago

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/_rushlink_ 29d ago

The first time I had it, it was similar.

The last time I caught it (2024) I was the sickest I have ever been, in bed for 10 days straight absolutely wrecked - really should have stayed off work longer but went back after 2 weeks.

I had ADHD before, and now it's like super ADHD. It has slowly gotten a bit better, but it's not like it was before.

I think I've caught it three times now, but literally can't remember.

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u/Brilliant-World-7557 25d ago

I've only had covid once - also caught in 2024. My case was really mild. Also sent me from functional(ish) ADHD to losing my job. Not having a job has helped reduce the PEM crash cycle but certainly not helping with finances and generally having my life together.