Disruption to blood-brain barrier linked to long COVID brain fog

Research suggests that sustained systemic inflammation and persistent localized BBB dysfunction is a key feature of long COVID–associated brain fog.

• Using dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI, researchers observed BBB disruption in patients with long COVID–associated brain fog.
• Transcriptomic analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells revealed dysregulation of the coagulation system and a dampened adaptive immune response in those with brain fog.
• Accordingly, peripheral blood mononuclear cells showed increased adhesion to human brain endothelial cells in vitro, while exposure of brain endothelial cells to serum from patients with long COVID induced expression of inflammatory markers.

Source:

Green, C. et al. (2024, February 22). Nat Neurosci. Blood-brain barrier disruption and sustained systemic inflammation in individuals with long COVID-associated cognitive impairment. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38388736/