United States: New research focused on a small group of participants indicates that one of the main symptoms of long COVID, such as brain fog, is linked to the decline in the performance of the lung’s ability to exchange gases such as oxygen, and carbon dioxide. HealthDay reported these findings will be presented at the Radiological Society’s annual meeting in Chicago next week, as reported by HealthDay.
“If these findings can be generalized to the long COVID population, the study gives a hint of causality between the cognitive dysfunction and the lung dysfunction,” Fain, the University of Iowa’s vice chair for research and a senior author of the study, said. “This might liberate treatment approaches in an effort to enhance the elimination of gas exchange.”
MRI Scans Reveal Brain-Lung Connection
The study examined 12 long COVID patients (10 women and 2 men) who underwent advanced MRI scans. The scans highlighted a correlation between poor lung function and cognitive difficulties, ranging from mild issues like slight mental lapses to severe symptoms such as daily struggles with concentration and slow thinking.
“There was a range of cognitive difficulties among the patients,” said lead researcher Keegan Staab. “Some cases were mild, but others showed significant dysfunction, impacting daily activities.”
How Impaired Lungs Impact Brain Health
According to the findings of the study, the changes in the blood flow in the brain were observed with worsening lung function. Thus, the relationship between oxygen supply and the circulation was exactly perverse – due to lower levels of oxygen, the heart must work harder to supply the brain and overall organism with sufficient oxygen.
“When the lungs cannot effectively transport oxygen, the heart has to pump more to supply the brain’s demand,” Staab added. This extra load on the heart could be one of the reasons for low blood flow in the brain leading to the complain of brain fog in long COVID.
Breathing Tests: A New Diagnostic Avenue for Long COVID?
Researchers suggest that MRI-based breathing tests could help diagnose lung issues contributing to long COVID symptoms. The study also paves the way for potential treatments aimed at improving lung gas exchange, which could alleviate cognitive symptoms, as reported by HealthDay.
While these findings are preliminary, they offer valuable insights into the interplay between lung and brain health in long COVID patients.