Brain and Brainstem Basis of Long COVID (BBB-COV): Research summary report
AIM: Long COVID results in a wide range of disabling symptoms which are unexplained by standard medical tests. There is an urgent need to understand what causes long COVID and to identify and develop better investigations that relate to the problems those with long COVID are experiencing. These may help with the diagnosis of different types of long COVID and to improve treatments and, ultimately, outcomes for those suffering with long COVID.
BACKGROUND: The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) responsible for COVID-19 can affect the brain and nerves, particularly those that regulate the heart and breathing. The brainstem is a key area which influences mood and thinking – the effect of the virus on this area may explain the diverse range of symptoms and contribute to the feeling of breathlessness experienced by many with long COVID. Unfortunately, the brainstem is not imaged or characterised by scans typically used in hospitals i.e. computerised tomography (CT) or conventional hospital magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Therefore, this study will use a more powerful, specialised MRI (7T MRI) scanner to examine this area in more detail. This may help to identify areas of the brain contributing to symptoms in long COVID. Importantly, it may also provide information to guide development of treatments to reduce some of the symptoms experienced by people with long COVID.
PR002