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GMJ News > GMJ Briefs > Brain Imaging Data Reframes Long COVID’s Neurological Profile

Brain Imaging Data Reframes Long COVID’s Neurological Profile

GMJ
Last updated: 28/06/2026 06:17
By
Prof. Giorgi Pkhakadze
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1 Min Read
Brain scan imaging showing activity patterns in long COVID patients compared to healthy controls
New brain imaging study finds no widespread inflammation in long COVID patients, instead revealing heightened activity in mood and emotion processing regions. The findings challenge current anti-inflammatory treatment approaches and suggest neurological symptoms stem from altered brain function rather than inflammatory damage. — Photo by RDNE Stock project on Pexels (Pexels License)
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1 min read|127 words

A comprehensive brain imaging analysis has yielded striking data that challenges fundamental assumptions about long COVID’s neurological basis. Zero percent of studied patients demonstrated widespread brain inflammation markers—a critical finding given that neuroinflammation has been a leading theoretical explanation for persistent cognitive symptoms affecting this population.

Simultaneously, 85 percent of long COVID patients exhibited heightened activity in mood-related brain regions, with 72 percent showing significant changes in emotional processing networks. These statistics suggest a distinct neurobiological pattern characterized by functional rather than inflammatory changes. The data indicates that current anti-inflammatory treatment strategies may be less effective than therapies targeting emotional regulation and mood stabilization.

These quantitative findings represent a watershed moment in long COVID research, necessitating urgent reconsideration of therapeutic approaches.

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ByProf. Giorgi Pkhakadze
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Prof. Giorgi Pkhakadze, MD, MPH, PhD, is Editor-in-Chief of the Georgian Medical Journal and Chair of the Public Health Institute of Georgia (PHIG). He is Professor and Head of the Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences at David Tvildiani Medical University, and Secretary/Treasurer of the UEMS Section of Public Health. ORCID: 0000-0001-7609-4515.

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