The exact nature of long COVID is still coming to light, but we just got some of the best evidence yet that this debilitating condition stems from a brain injury.

Using high-resolution scanners, researchers at the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford have shown microscopic, structural abnormalities in the brainstems of those recovering from COVID-19.

Signs of brain inflammation were present up to 18 months after first contracting the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

"We show that the brainstem is a site of vulnerability to long-term effects of COVID-19, with persistent changes evident in the months after hospitalization," the authors of the study conclude.

https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awae215

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[–] veganpizza69@lemmy.vg 2 points 13 hours ago (2 children)

Oh, and just for fun, breathing is still hard. And all medical testing shows my lungs are just fine and there should be problem.

autonomic issue?

[–] bluewing@lemm.ee 1 points 3 hours ago

They don't really understand the mechanism very well yet according my pulimologist. But data is being collected and studies are being done.

[–] starelfsc2@sh.itjust.works 4 points 9 hours ago

Not the one you responded to but it's a couple things, generally just lungs feeling inflamed, difficulty taking a full breath, way more sensitive to air quality / air temperature, and a bit of autonomic (I have to use a cpap to fall asleep now because sometimes I just stop breathing as I'm falling asleep)