Leaky Blood-Brain Barrier Linked to Long Covid’s ‘Brain Fog,’ Study Reveals

Researchers at Trinity College Dublin have uncovered a potential link between the symptom known as “brain fog” in long Covid patients and a leaky blood-brain barrier. The blood-brain barrier typically regulates the balance of materials entering and exiting the brain, and any disruption to this balance can impact neural function, particularly in brain regions responsible for memory consolidation and storage.

The study, published in the journal Nature Neuroscience, examined serum and plasma samples from 76 patients hospitalized with Covid in March or April 2020, as well as samples from individuals before the pandemic. Notably, samples from Covid patients who reported brain fog showed higher levels of a protein called S100β, a brain-produced protein not normally found in the blood. This suggested a breakdown of the blood-brain barrier in those patients.

An additional MRI scan of recovered Covid patients, including those with long Covid and brain fog, confirmed signs of a leaky blood-brain barrier in the group experiencing brain fog. Those without the symptom or those who had recovered did not display the same indicators.

Professor Matthew Campbell, co-author of the research, noted the potential for the study’s findings to extend beyond long Covid, suggesting implications for individuals with brain fog related to other conditions, such as ME (myalgic encephalomyelitis). The study’s focus on the first wave of Covid patients prompts questions about whether the same mechanisms apply to those with later variants or who have been vaccinated.

While previous research has linked abnormal blood clotting to brain fog in long Covid patients, the Trinity College Dublin study adds to the understanding of the neurological impact, specifically involving the blood-brain barrier. The findings open avenues for potential treatments targeting the integrity of the blood-brain barrier to alleviate symptoms of brain fog in long Covid patients.

Although the study is valuable in shedding light on the neurological aspects of long Covid, researchers emphasize the need for further exploration, acknowledging that various processes may contribute to brain fog and post-Covid syndrome.

The small number of participants and the self-reported nature of brain fog in the study highlight the preliminary nature of the findings, emphasizing the importance of continued research in understanding and addressing the complex symptoms associated with long Covid.

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