Researchers offer hypothesis for long COVID brain fog

A group in France has offered an explanation for long COVID brain fog, with the concept based on a visual brain pattern they discovered on patient PET scans, according to a study published October 13 in Medical Hypotheses. “We hypothesize that the hypometabolism pattern observed in long COVID patients with brain fog using F-18 FDG-PET might primarily be a signature of astrocyte-related glutamatergic dysregulation,” wrote lead study author Eric Guedj, MD, PhD, of Marseille University Hospital.That is, brain inflammation triggered by COVID-19 infections may disrupt how astrocyte cells regulate glutamate, a neurotransmitter involved in energy metabolism, and this malfunction ultimately leads to cognitive fatigue, the authors explained.Moreover, the researchers proposed targeting the malfunction with therapy.“Based on these elements, we propose that therapeutics targeting astrocytic glutamate regulation could help mitigate long-COVID neurological manifestations,” the group wrote.Long COVID is defined by the persistence or recurrence of symptoms three months after an initial infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, with up to 15% of patients affected, according to the authors. The condition is characterized by a lack of mental clarity, difficulty concentrating, and an inability to focus, with cognitive activities becoming effortful, they wrote.Hypometabolism detected with F-18 FDG-PET in long-COVID patients: putative astrocyte dysfunction and glutamatergic dysregulation. (A) P...

Source: AuntMinnie.com Headlines - October 19, 2023 Category: Radiology Authors: Will Morton Tags: Clinical News Molecular Imaging Nuclear Medicine Source Type: news