Brainstem neurochemical profiles after hospitalisation for COVID-19: a 7T MR spectroscopy study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Somatic, cognitive and mental health issues have been identified in three-quarters of people 5 months after hospitalisation for severe acute SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infection. The underlying neuroanatomical basis of these symptoms remains unclear, but recent studies suggest a role for altered brainstem physiology. We aimed to test the hypothesis that brainstem neurochemical profiles differ in patients who had been hospitalised for COVID-19 compared to matched controls using 7T magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS).

Methods

This prospective case-control study recruited 34 individuals who were hospitalised for COVID-19 and 15 healthy controls with no history of COVID-19 infection from two major UK hospitals before vaccines became available. The participants underwent

SUBMITTER: Graf C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12568683 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature