Researchers at Trinity College Dublin have discovered a potential link between long Covid and brain fog, a common symptom experienced by many individuals with the condition. Through their study published in the journal Nature Neuroscience, the team analyzed samples from 76 Covid patients hospitalized in March or April 2020, as well as 25 individuals pre-pandemic.

The findings revealed that Covid patients with self-reported brain fog exhibited higher levels of the brain protein S100β, which is not typically found in the blood and indicates a breakdown in the blood-brain barrier. Further investigations on individuals with long Covid, including those who had recovered from the virus, showed signs of a leaky blood-brain barrier in patients experiencing brain fog.

Professor Matthew Campbell, co-author of the research, highlighted the potential implications of their findings, suggesting that regulating the integrity of the blood-brain barrier could be a promising approach in treating neurological conditions like brain fog. The study, however, focused on Covid patients from the first wave, and it remains uncertain whether similar mechanisms are at play in individuals with later virus variants or those who have been vaccinated.

Although the study involved a small number of participants, experts like Professor Claire Steves from King's College London acknowledge that the research sheds light on the potential factors contributing to brain fog in long Covid patients. The study's results also align with previous findings suggesting that abnormal blood clotting in the brain may play a role in post-Covid brain fog.

While further research is needed to confirm these findings and explore potential treatments, the insights provided by the study offer a valuable contribution to understanding the neurological impacts of long Covid and related conditions like ME.