Have you noticed yourself forgetting small things after recovering from COVID-19, or feeling a constant fatigue that refuses to go away? If you're dismissing it as just physical weakness, then wait a moment. Researchers at New York University in the US have made a startling discovery that may increase your anxiety.

Long COVID is not just a normal weakness.

People often mistake fatigue after COVID-19 for normal physical weakness, but new research suggests that the effects of long COVID may be much more profound. According to scientists, this disease can cause changes in our brains that are commonly associated with serious mental illnesses like Alzheimer's. Simply put, fatigue, lack of concentration, and memory problems can increase the risk of future Alzheimer's.

Brain scans of 179 people

Researchers conducted a comprehensive study to reach this conclusion. They performed MRI scans of the brains of a total of 179 people. This study included three types of people:

Those who were suffering from long COVID.
Those who had completely recovered from COVID.
Those who had never been infected with COVID.

Inflammation in this specific part of the brain
The results of the study surprised the scientists. They found that those who had suffered from long COVID had changes in a part of the brain called the choroid plexus.

This area was found to be 10 percent larger on average in these patients and had reduced blood flow. The choroid plexus's function is to control inflammation in the brain and remove harmful waste products from the brain. When inflammation or changes occur in this area, brain function is severely affected.

Direct impact on memory and focus
The study clearly revealed that internal changes in the brain have a direct impact on our thinking and understanding. The scientists found that participants whose brains had larger-than-normal choroid plexus regions performed significantly worse on standardized tests of memory and attention. Their average scores were lower than those who did not have these changes.

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