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Long Covid Linked to Brain Dopamine Neuron Damage
14 Jul
Summary
- Study suggests long Covid may damage brain dopamine neurons.
- Dopamine loss correlates with fatigue, slowed movement, memory loss.
- New treatments may repurpose dopamine-boosting medications.
A recent study published in eBioMedicine provides strong evidence that long Covid, characterized by persistent neurological symptoms, may be linked to damage in the brain's dopamine-releasing neurons. Researchers utilized PET brain imaging to assess dopamine neuron integrity in 24 long Covid patients and 43 healthy controls.
Individuals with long Covid showed significantly lower levels of dopamine nerve endings across key brain regions involved in motivation, movement, and thinking. Specifically, reduced markers in certain areas were associated with diminished motivation, slower movement, and memory impairment.
This research marks a departure from previous studies that largely focused on brain inflammation. The findings suggest that long Covid could, in part, be a disorder of the dopamine system. Scientists propose that repurposing existing medications that augment dopamine function could offer a promising therapeutic avenue for treating long Covid symptoms.
