### Groundbreaking Study Links Severe COVID-19 to Brainstem Damage

Researchers from the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford have identified significant damage to the brainstem, attributed to severe cases of COVID-19. This damage is suspected to be responsible for the persistent physical and psychiatric effects reported by patients. Utilizing ultra-high-resolution 7-Tesla MRI scanners, the team observed the detrimental impact of the virus on the brain.

The study involved scanning the brains of 30 individuals who had been hospitalized with severe COVID-19. The findings highlighted damage in the region of the brainstem, specifically the medulla oblongata and pons, which are linked to breathlessness, fatigue, and anxiety. Prior to the availability of vaccines, post-mortem studies had indicated changes in the brainstem due to inflammation resulting from the virus.

Dr. Catarina Rua, from the Department of Clinical Neurosciences, explained the significance of these findings: "Things happening in and around the brainstem are vital for quality of life, but it had been impossible to scan the inflammation of the brainstem nuclei in living people, because of their tiny size and difficult position." The study, she noted, provides a detailed look at brainstem changes in living patients, a breakthrough made possible with the advanced 7T scanners.

The research published in the journal "Brain" underscores the broader implications of brainstem inflammation. Besides the physical symptoms, there were marked psychiatric effects, with patients exhibiting higher levels of depression and anxiety. Professor James Rowe, who co-led the research, emphasized the critical role of the brainstem in connecting mental and physical health. He noted that the insights gained from this study could improve understanding and treatment of long-term COVID-19 symptoms and other conditions like MS and dementia.

The collaborative effort, conducted at the height of the pandemic, demonstrated the potential of 7T scanners to observe immune responses in unprecedented detail. As Professor Rowe pointed out, understanding how the brainstem responds to COVID-19 could lead to more effective treatments for both the physical and mental health effects of the virus.