Brain footprint explains COVID long-haul “brain fog”
A Molecular Signal Behind the Most Persistent Symptom
The so-called brain fog — difficulty concentrating, memory lapses, and slow thinking — is one of the most reported symptoms of long COVID. For years, its biological origin was a mystery. Now, a group of Japanese researchers believe they have found a measurable explanation: key proteins for communication between neurons.
Brains under the scanner: how the footprint was discovered
The team used an innovative method called K-2 AMPAR, which allows visualizing the distribution of AMPA receptors in living brains. The study included 30 patients with long COVID and 80 healthy individuals as a control group.
“We aim to offer a new perspective on the medical challenge of long COVID,” said Takahashi. “Our results confirm that mental confusion is a legitimate neurological condition, not a subjective symptom.”
What this finding means for medicine
AMPA receptors regulate excitatory synaptic transmission, that is, the flow of information between neurons. When overactivated, they can alter brain signaling and lead to cognitive deficits. The discovery opens up a possible therapeutic avenue: drugs that modulate the activity of these receptors could alleviate symptoms of brain fog.
Furthermore, the use of PET K-2 AMPAR provides an objective tool for the assessment of patients with persistent COVID.
Hope for millions of affected individuals
The research is still in its early stages, but it represents a paradigm shift. The molecular basis for brain fog is now demonstrable, offering clearer diagnoses and targeted treatments for the millions of people still suffering cognitive effects post-infection.
“Every discovery brings us closer to better understanding how COVID alters the brain,” concluded Takahashi. “And understanding it is the first step to reversing it.”
