7T MR reveals brainstem damage in patients with severe COVID-19 infections
October 09, 2024
by Gus Iversen, Editor in Chief
Researchers from the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford have used 7T MR to identify damage to the brainstem as a potential cause of long-lasting physical and psychiatric symptoms in patients with severe COVID-19 infections.
Their findings, published in Brain, suggest that inflammation in this region, particularly in areas responsible for breathing and heart rate, may explain post-COVID-19 symptoms like breathlessness, fatigue, and anxiety.
The researchers scanned the brains of 30 patients who had been hospitalized with severe COVID-19 early in the pandemic, using powerful MR scanners to detect inflammation in small regions such as the brainstem’s nuclei. These areas, crucial for regulating essential body functions, were observed to have abnormal activity weeks after infection.
Cambridge used a Siemens Healthineers 7T Terra scanner and Oxford used the Siemens Healthineers Magnetom 7T scanner. All participants were scanned using a 32-channel head coil from Nova Medical.
Lead researcher Dr. Catarina Rua emphasized the significance of being able to scan such tiny and critical parts of the brain in living patients, a task previously limited to post-mortem studies. The research team noted that many COVID-19 patients experienced prolonged symptoms, with damage to the brainstem likely persisting after the initial infection.
In addition to the physical symptoms, the scans revealed connections between brainstem inflammation and psychiatric effects like anxiety and depression. Professor James Rowe, who co-led the study, highlighted the close link between physical and mental health, pointing out that immune responses to the virus may contribute to both.
“The brainstem is the critical junction box between our conscious selves and what is happening in our bodies,” said Rowe. “The ability to see and understand how the brainstem changes in response to COVID-19 will help explain and treat the long term effects more effectively.”
The researchers believe the findings, and 7T scanners in general, could aid in understanding other neurological conditions, such as multiple sclerosis and dementia, which are also linked to brainstem inflammation.
Their findings, published in Brain, suggest that inflammation in this region, particularly in areas responsible for breathing and heart rate, may explain post-COVID-19 symptoms like breathlessness, fatigue, and anxiety.
The researchers scanned the brains of 30 patients who had been hospitalized with severe COVID-19 early in the pandemic, using powerful MR scanners to detect inflammation in small regions such as the brainstem’s nuclei. These areas, crucial for regulating essential body functions, were observed to have abnormal activity weeks after infection.
Cambridge used a Siemens Healthineers 7T Terra scanner and Oxford used the Siemens Healthineers Magnetom 7T scanner. All participants were scanned using a 32-channel head coil from Nova Medical.
Lead researcher Dr. Catarina Rua emphasized the significance of being able to scan such tiny and critical parts of the brain in living patients, a task previously limited to post-mortem studies. The research team noted that many COVID-19 patients experienced prolonged symptoms, with damage to the brainstem likely persisting after the initial infection.
In addition to the physical symptoms, the scans revealed connections between brainstem inflammation and psychiatric effects like anxiety and depression. Professor James Rowe, who co-led the study, highlighted the close link between physical and mental health, pointing out that immune responses to the virus may contribute to both.
“The brainstem is the critical junction box between our conscious selves and what is happening in our bodies,” said Rowe. “The ability to see and understand how the brainstem changes in response to COVID-19 will help explain and treat the long term effects more effectively.”
The researchers believe the findings, and 7T scanners in general, could aid in understanding other neurological conditions, such as multiple sclerosis and dementia, which are also linked to brainstem inflammation.