Covid-19 has been around for three years, but we’re still learning more about the virus every day. Now new research is helping us understand a symptom many people experience during and after infection—commonly known as brain fog.
About 15 percent of people suffer from long-term effects of the virus. Brain fog is one of the most reported symptoms of long Covid. Problems with memory, concentration, and thinking are common after contracting Covid. Research indicates that around 22 percent of people with long-haul Covid experience these cognitive issues.
New research published in Cell Host & Microbe suggests that the spike protein from the virus may persist in brain-related tissues even after infection. The study found evidence of spike protein presence in areas such as the skull bone marrow niches and meninges, which are protective layers surrounding the brain.
Researchers suggest that circulating blood may transport these spike proteins, allowing them to reach sensitive areas near the brain. Over time, this accumulation may contribute to inflammation and cell damage, which could help explain neurological symptoms such as brain fog seen in long Covid patients.
These findings highlight the need for further research into how Covid-19 affects the brain and long-term neurological health.
Sources:
- Cell Host & Microbe Study (DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2024.11.007)
- Rong, Mai, Ebert, Kapoor et al., 2024 — Persistence of spike protein at the skull-meninges-brain axis may contribute to the neurological sequelae of COVID-19, Cell Host & Microbe. Read study
Hyperbaric oxygen treatments continue to show promise for individuals suffering from long-haul Covid. Hyperbaric medicine provides 100% pure oxygen under pressure, which may help support the body’s natural healing process and reduce inflammation.
Many patients at Swanson Hyperbarics have reported improvement in symptoms such as brain fog after undergoing hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
Call 701-929-3930 to learn more about hyperbaric oxygen treatments and other available therapies.