COVID fatigue linked to reduced brain blood flow
Playing with your children or meeting a friend for coffee are everyday activities that many people move between without giving much thought to how much mental or physical energy they take.
A recent study has uncovered a potential link between long COVID-related fatigue and reduced brain blood flow. Researchers compared 22 individuals with long COVID experiencing persistent fatigue to 19 healthy volunteers. Participants completed a 20-minute task requiring sustained attention while their brain blood flow was measured using arterial spin labeling MRI.
People with long COVID reported feeling more fatigued before and after the task compared to controls. They also responded more slowly during the attention test, though their performance did not worsen significantly over time. Brain scans revealed lower overall cerebral blood flow in the long COVID group, particularly in regions involved in attention, sensory processing, and cognitive control.
This correlation between reduced blood flow and slower reaction times suggests that changes in cerebral blood flow may contribute to fatigue and concentration difficulties in long COVID. However, the study's small sample size and observational nature prevent conclusions about causation. The MRI technique also has limitations, unable to fully distinguish between reduced blood flow within brain tissue and changes in blood vessel movement.
While the findings highlight the potential role of cerebral blood flow in long COVID symptoms, further research is needed to establish the causal relationship and guide potential treatments.
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