COVID Pandemic Aged Brains By an Average of 5.5 Months, Study Finds 21
An anonymous reader quotes a report from NBC News: Using brain scans from a very large database, British researchers determined that during the pandemic years of 2021 and 2022, people's brains showed signs of aging, including shrinkage, according to the report published in Nature Communications. People who got infected with the virus also showed deficits in certain cognitive abilities, such as processing speed and mental flexibility. The aging effect "was most pronounced in males and those from more socioeconomically deprived backgrounds," said the study's first author, Ali-Reza Mohammadi-Nejad, a neuroimaging researcher at the University of Nottingham, via email. "It highlights that brain health is not shaped solely by illness, but also by broader life experiences."
Overall, the researchers found a 5.5-month acceleration in aging associated with the pandemic. On average, the difference in brain aging between men and women was small, about 2.5 months. "We don't yet know exactly why, but this fits with other research suggesting that men may be more affected by certain types of stress or health challenges," Mohammadi-Nejad said. [...] The study wasn't designed to pinpoint specific causes. "But it is likely that the cumulative experience of the pandemic -- including psychological stress, social isolation, disruptions in daily life, reduced activity and wellness -- contributed to the observed changes," Mohammadi-Nejad said. "In this sense, the pandemic period itself appears to have left a mark on our brains, even in the absence of infection." "The most intriguing finding in this study is that only those who were infected with SARS-CoV-2 showed any cognitive deficits, despite structural aging," said Jacqueline Becker, a clinical neuropsychologist and assistant professor of medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. "This speaks a little to the effects of the virus itself."
The study may shed light on conditions like long Covid and chronic fatigue, though it's still unclear whether the observed brain changes in uninfected individuals will lead to noticeable effects on brain function.
Overall, the researchers found a 5.5-month acceleration in aging associated with the pandemic. On average, the difference in brain aging between men and women was small, about 2.5 months. "We don't yet know exactly why, but this fits with other research suggesting that men may be more affected by certain types of stress or health challenges," Mohammadi-Nejad said. [...] The study wasn't designed to pinpoint specific causes. "But it is likely that the cumulative experience of the pandemic -- including psychological stress, social isolation, disruptions in daily life, reduced activity and wellness -- contributed to the observed changes," Mohammadi-Nejad said. "In this sense, the pandemic period itself appears to have left a mark on our brains, even in the absence of infection." "The most intriguing finding in this study is that only those who were infected with SARS-CoV-2 showed any cognitive deficits, despite structural aging," said Jacqueline Becker, a clinical neuropsychologist and assistant professor of medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. "This speaks a little to the effects of the virus itself."
The study may shed light on conditions like long Covid and chronic fatigue, though it's still unclear whether the observed brain changes in uninfected individuals will lead to noticeable effects on brain function.
So what? (Score:3)
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
We gave up on brains long before AI. See Also: 2016 election.
Our hyper competitive hyperindividualistic society (Score:2)
I suspect very soon we're going to start seeing massive wars. World war 3 is basically around the corner. The problem is this time we've got nukes and plenty of lunatics who think they can build golden domes to protect themselves.
But you can't have environmental changes putting pressure on the food supply combined with pretty much all the good land currently owned and occupied combined
Internet is the problem and solution (Score:3)
Can't have WW3 if everyone is busy arguing on the Internet. *taps temple knowingly*
I've never seen so many 3XL tactical vests until Jan 6th. I really don't see a reason to be afraid of most of the alt-right and far right these days.
If you want to fight fascism, just open a fried chicken restaurant and pay for weekly regular ads on Doordash. On Friday nights, offer a free 2L of Mountain Dew Code Red with every double bucket order.
Re: Internet is the problem and solution (Score:2)
I don't think poor diet is a partisan issue. And modern medicine can do miracles and keep people alive for a while, provided you don't take healthcare away from them.
Covid-19 infection affects small blood vessels (Score:2)
Re: Covid-19 infection affects small blood vessels (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Given the infantile brain of the average American (Score:2)
Shouldn't a bit of additional aging be a good thing?
(Of course, not for our elected leaders. The average age of Congress is airline-pilots-would-be-forced-to-retire high...)
Re: (Score:2)
Old and senile people are as infantile as petulant children, hence nope, we definitely don't need that.
Shrinkage? (Score:2)
I was in the pool!! I was in the pool!!
Raise women's retirement age only next time (Score:2)
This is yet another reason to reverse the decades of women retiring earlier than men to having men retiring earlier...