01/07/2026
Anyone with a loved one who had the virus ever have the thought that something changed in their personality, had memory or cognition issues but you couldn't put your finger on it? You were right.
New MRI study shows COVID-19 can leave lasting brain changes—even after “full” recovery.
Researchers at Griffith University’s National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Disease used advanced, multimodal MRI to investigate the brains of people who had recovered from COVID-19, including those with and without ongoing Long COVID symptoms. By comparing these individuals with people who had never been infected, the team found clear differences in both gray and white matter regions that are critical for memory, cognition, and overall brain health. The scans revealed changes in brain neurochemicals, signal intensity, and tissue microstructure, indicating that COVID-19 can leave detectable alterations in brain tissue even when individuals consider themselves fully recovered and report no persistent symptoms.
In participants with Long COVID, the extent of these brain changes was associated with symptom severity, suggesting a biological basis for the cognitive complaints—such as problems with memory and concentration—reported after infection and sometimes persisting for months or years. The findings highlight that COVID-19 is not only a respiratory illness but also a condition with potential long-term effects on the central nervous system, raising concerns about “silent” neurological impacts that may go unnoticed without specialized imaging. The research underscores the need for ongoing monitoring of brain health after COVID-19 and supports further investigation into preventive and therapeutic strategies for post-COVID neurological symptoms.
References (APA style)
SciTechDaily. (2025, December 30). COVID-19 leaves lasting changes in the brain, even after full recovery. SciTechDaily.
Thapaliya, K., Marshall-Gradisnik, S., Inderyas, M., & Barnden, L. (2025). Altered brain tissue microstructure and neurochemical profiles in long COVID and recovered COVID-19 individuals: A multimodal MRI study. Brain, Behavior, & Immunity – Health.