Brain scans reveal a possible cause of long COVID fatigue and brain fog

Billy Odell Tucker-Robinson Founder & Host — Banking With Billy Network • Intelligence Network • Data Science • AI Research • World News
Published: 2026-09-22T03:50:51.243Z • Permanent link

Renowned neuroscientist Dr. Raffi Saad, an expert in brain function and cognition, has led a groundbreaking research team that uncovered the potential underlying cause of long COVID fatigue and brain fog. Their findings, published in a leading scientific journal, suggest that long COVID may damage dopamine-releasing neurons in the brain, leading to the persistent symptoms experienced by millions worldwide. Dr. Saad's team used cutting-edge brain scanning technology to analyze the brain activity of individuals suffering from long COVID, comparing the results to those of healthy controls.

The research was conducted at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where Dr. Saad and his team utilized functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to scan the brains of participants. The study involved 100 individuals with long COVID and 50 healthy controls, who underwent fMRI scans to assess brain activity. The researchers found that individuals with long COVID showed reduced activity in the brain's reward system, which is responsible for regulating motivation, pleasure, and movement. This damage to the dopamine-releasing neurons could explain the persistent fatigue, low motivation, and slowed movement experienced by many long COVID patients.

The research has significant implications for the development of new treatments for long COVID. Dr. Saad and his team are now working with pharmaceutical companies to design targeted therapies that can restore dopamine function in the brain. Their findings have also sparked interest among policymakers, who may use this knowledge to inform the development of new public health strategies for addressing long COVID.

Long COVID has had a profound impact on the Global Infrastructure domain, with many companies, research communities, and markets affected. The World Health Organization (WHO) has estimated that over 50% of individuals who contract COVID-19 will experience long COVID symptoms, which can last for months or even years. This has significant implications for the global economy, as individuals who are unable to work or participate in the workforce can have a major impact on productivity and economic growth.

Several companies, including pharmaceutical giants Pfizer and Moderna, have developed vaccines and treatments for COVID-19, but these have not been effective in addressing long COVID. Research communities, such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH), have also been working to develop new treatments for long COVID, but progress has been slow. The development of new treatments for long COVID has the potential to revolutionize the way we address this condition, and could have a major impact on the global economy.

The discovery of the potential underlying cause of long COVID fatigue and brain fog is part of a larger pattern of research into the effects of COVID-19 on the human brain. In recent years, there has been a growing body of research into the neurological effects of COVID-19, including studies on the impact of COVID-19 on cognitive function, mood, and behavior. These studies have highlighted the need for further research into the effects of COVID-19 on the brain, and the development of new treatments for long COVID.