Unraveling the Impact of Long COVID on the Brain

A case-control study found that spinal fluid immune profiles were largely normal in individuals with neurologic long COVID symptoms, suggesting that brain inflammation may not be the cause of cognitive symptoms associated with long COVID. The study did not find evidence of abnormal cytokines in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) or blood-brain barrier dysfunction in participants with post-COVID neuropsychiatric conditions. The findings suggest that interventions aimed at reducing brain inflammation may not be effective in treating long COVID cognitive symptoms. Further research is needed to understand the underlying mechanisms of long COVID.