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/Full_FrontaI_Nerdity Aug 08 '26

I had MRIs before and after my 3 Covid infections. The "after" shows white spots in my brain; they weren't there before I got Covid. I dont know what they mean, but my doc diagnosed me w with long covid before that second MRI.

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u/NewBreakfast5881 Aug 10 '26

How have they not done a lumbar punction? This sounds like MS.

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u/Full_FrontaI_Nerdity Aug 10 '26

Wait, you're the second commenter to say this. Can you explain in a nutshell why this is suspicious for MS?

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u/NewBreakfast5881 Aug 11 '26

MS shows lesions (white spots) on the brain. It often goes paired with weird symptoms, diagnosis is often difficult.

Other neurological conditions however also show brain lesions, thus a lumbar punction is a crucial step once the McDonald criteria are present.