Altered brain tissue microstructure and neurochemical profiles in long COVID and recovered COVID-19 individuals: A multimodal MRI study, 2025,Thapali+

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Altered brain tissue microstructure and neurochemical profiles in long COVID and recovered COVID-19 individuals: A multimodal MRI study

Thapaliya, Kiran; Marshall-Gradisnik, Sonya; Inderyas, Maira; Barnden, Leighton

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Background
Diverse neurological symptoms are experienced by long COVID and COVID-19 recovered individuals. However, the long-term effects of SARS-CoV-2 in the brain of both groups are underexplored. This study aimed to investigate changes in tissue microstructural and brain neurochemical levels in long COVID and recovered COVID-19 patients compared to healthy controls.

Methods
We recruited 47 participants (long COVID = 19, COVID-recovered healthy controls = 12, and healthy controls without COVID-19 infection = 16) who underwent 3T MRI scans.

We acquired T1 and T2 weighted images to assess myelin signal, diffusion weighted images to assess tissue microstructure, and magnetic resonance spectroscopy data to estimate brain neurochemical levels.

Findings
Our multimodal MRI study showed altered T1w/T2w signal between long COVID vs COVID-recovered-healthy controls, long COVID vs healthy controls, and COVID-recovered-healthy controls vs healthy controls.

Furthermore, T1w/T2w signal intensity was significantly correlated with physical and cognitive function.

Diffusion weighted imaging also showed altered tissue microstructure in these three group comparisons.

However, brain neurochemicals were only significantly different between long COVID vs COVID-recovered-healthy controls.

Interpretation
This is one of the first studies to report different myelin signal and brain neurochemical changes between long COVID, COVID-recovered-healthy controls, and healthy controls without SARS-CoV-2 infection. These brain changes provide compelling evidence for the long-term effects of SARS-CoV-2 on brain function.

Web | DOI | Brain, Behavior, & Immunity - Health | Open Access
 
www.eurekalert.org

COVID-19 leaves a lasting mark on the human brain

COVID-19 does not just affect the respiratory system, but also significantly alters the brain in people who have fully recovered from the infectious disease, highlighting the long-term neurological impact of the virus.
www.eurekalert.org

News Release 15-Dec-2025

COVID-19 leaves a lasting mark on the human brain​

COVID-19 does not just affect the respiratory system, but also significantly alters the brain in people who have fully recovered from the infectious disease, highlighting the long-term neurological impact of the virus.

Peer-Reviewed Publication
Griffith University


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COVID-19 does not just affect the respiratory system, but also significantly alters the brain in people who have fully recovered from the infectious disease, highlighting the long-term neurological impact of the virus.

Researchers from Griffith University’s National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Disease (NCNED) used advanced MRI techniques to ascertain the neurological implications of COVID-19 compared with those who had never been infected.

The research provided compelling evidence that even in the absence of ongoing symptoms, prior infection with the virus could leave a measurable imprint on the brain.

Lead author, Dr Kiran Thapaliya, said: “We used multimodal MRI techniques to examine both grey and white matter brain regions critical for memory, cognition and overall brain health and found clear differences across all participant groups.”

“The unique MRI approach identified significant alterations in brain neurochemicals, brain signal intensity, and tissue structure not only in individuals with Long COVID but also in those who considered themselves fully recovered,” he said.

“The research also reported that altered brain tissue was associated with symptom severity in individuals with Long COVID, suggesting the virus may leave a silent, lasting effect on brain health.”

These findings offer vital insights into how COVID 19 affects the central nervous system and may help explain the cognitive problems, such as memory and concentration, reported both shortly after infection and months or even years later.

NCNED Director, Professor Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik, said: “The NCNED brings together a critical mass of talented researchers and clinicians committed to improving the lives of the patients.”

“We are privileged to access state-of-the-art technologies which drive transformative scientific discoveries.”

The research was funded by ME Research UK and the Stafford Fox Medical Research Foundation.

The paper ‘Altered Brain Tissue Microstructure and Neurochemical Profiles in Long COVID and Recovered COVID-19 Individuals: A multimodal MRI Study’ was published in Brain, Behavior, and Immunity - Health.

DOI​

10.1016/j.bbih.2025.101142

Method of Research​

Case study

Subject of Research​

People

Article Title​

Altered brain tissue microstructure and neurochemical profiles in long COVID and recovered COVID-19 individuals: A multimodal MRI study

Article Publication Date​

1-Dec-2025
 
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