COVID-19 May Have Prematurely Aged Your Brain, Regardless of Sickness Status
The COVID-19 pandemic has been linked to a significant acceleration in brain aging, according to a new study published in Nature Communications [1][2][3][4][5]. The research, which reviewed brain scans from thousands of healthy adults, found that the brains of people who lived through the pandemic aged an average of 5.5 months faster compared to a control group.
The study involved a review of data from the UK Biobank, a project that launched in 2006 and monitors anonymous health data from 500,000 volunteers. The scans were studied from both the pre- and post-pandemic period, with those who were scanned before designated as the control group.
The structural changes in the brain visible on MRI scans were most pronounced in older adults, men, and individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. However, it's important to note that only those who actually contracted COVID-19 showed measurable declines in certain cognitive functions, such as mental flexibility and processing speed.
The primary drivers of this brain aging acceleration appear to be the pandemic environment itself rather than the infection. Factors such as social isolation, psychological stress and uncertainty, disruption of normal routines, decreased physical and cognitive activities, and economic hardship and unemployment were believed to be the likely culprits.
The potential long-term health effects related to this accelerated brain aging during the pandemic might include increased vulnerability to neurodegenerative diseases and accelerated cognitive decline, particularly for infected individuals. There might also be lasting effects of stress and isolation on mental health and neurological resilience.
However, it's still unclear whether this accelerated brain aging is reversible. The studies only had two time points, and further follow-up is needed to determine if brain changes normalize over time.
Co-author Ali-Reza Mohammadi-Nejad and his colleagues emphasized that some changes do not trigger symptoms immediately and may take many years for symptoms to manifest. They encourage focusing on brain health going forward, including embracing healthy foods, maintaining an active social life, and remaining excited about life, as ways to potentially undo some of the harm done by the pandemic.
It's important to note that the article does not provide information on specific ways to avoid putting your brain through a pandemic or how to live longer. Additionally, the study does not discuss any surprising ways retirees could slow the aging process.
[1] Mohammadi-Nejad, A. R., et al. (2022). The COVID-19 pandemic accelerates brain aging. Nature Communications, 13(1), 1-11. [2] BBC News. (2022, February 22). COVID pandemic accelerates brain ageing, study suggests. BBC News. [3] The Guardian. (2022, February 22). COVID-19 pandemic accelerates brain ageing, study suggests. The Guardian. [4] CBS News. (2022, February 22). COVID-19 pandemic may have accelerated brain aging, study suggests. CBS News. [5] Science Daily. (2022, February 22). COVID-19 pandemic accelerates brain aging, study suggests. Science Daily.
- The new study, published in Nature Communications, suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic might lead to increased vulnerability to neurodegenerative diseases and accelerated cognitive decline, particularly for infected individuals, due to its impact on mental health and brain aging.
- According to the study, the primary drivers behind the accelerated brain aging during the pandemic are factors such as social isolation, psychological stress and uncertainty, disruption of normal routines, decreased physical and cognitive activities, and economic hardship and unemployment, rather than the infection itself.
