Latest news with #COVID-infected
Time of India
24-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Neuro scans of adults in UK reveal faster ageing of brain post-pandemic
New Delhi: Experiencing the COVID-19 pandemic may have accelerated brain ageing by five and a half months, regardless of one's infection status, according to a new study, which researchers said point to the indirect effects of aspects such as isolation and uncertainty. The researchers, led by those from the University of Nottingham, analysed brain scans of adults in the UK taken before and after the pandemic. They found that changes were most noticeable among the brains of older individuals, men, and people from disadvantaged backgrounds, such as those unemployed and having lower incomes or education. However, brain ageing was found to impact cognitive function, with 'brain fog' and difficulty in focussing being common symptoms, only in those who were infected with COVID-19, suggesting that brain ageing alone may not necessarily produce symptoms. The findings, published in the journal Nature Communications, highlight "how much the experience of the pandemic itself, everything from isolation to uncertainty, may have affected our brain health," said lead researcher Ali-Reza Mohammadi-Nejad, research fellow at the university's faculty of medicine and health sciences. "What surprised me most was that even people who hadn't had Covid showed significant increases in brain ageing rates," Mohammadi-Nejad added. According to the authors, the pandemic-related brain ageing "may be at least partially reversible", but being strongly linked with socio-economic deprivation, the policies addressing inequalities are urgently needed, given that existing gaps widened during this time. AI-powered models which were used for predicting brain age were first trained on magnetic resonance image (MRI) brain scans of over 15,000 healthy people from the UK Biobank. The models thus learnt to measure the 'brain age gap' i.e. how much one's brain age differed from their actual age. The models were then employed to analyse two scans of the brains of 996 healthy participants, in 564 people (controls) both the scans were taken before the pandemic, while in the 'Pandemic' group consisting of 432 individuals, one scan was taken before and one after. "The 'Pandemic' group shows on average (a) 5.5-month higher deviation of brain age gap at the second time point, compared with controls," the authors wrote. They also found that "accelerated brain ageing is more pronounced in males and those from deprived socio-demographic backgrounds and these deviations exist regardless of SARS-CoV-2 (virus that causes COVID-19) infection." Further, cognitive tests taken at the time of both scans revealed that an "accelerated brain ageing correlates with reduced cognitive performance only in COVID-infected participants." Senior author Dorothee Auer, professor of neuroimaging at the University of Nottingham, said "This study reminds us that brain health is shaped not only by illness, but by our everyday environment." "The pandemic put a strain on people's lives, especially those already facing disadvantage. We can't yet test whether the changes we saw will reverse, but it's certainly possible, and that's an encouraging thought," Auer said.
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First Post
23-07-2025
- Health
- First Post
Pandemic accelerated brain ageing by 5.5 months, but it may be partly reversible, says UK study
Brain ageing was found to impact cognitive function, with 'brain fog' and difficulty in focussing being common symptoms, only in those who were infected with COVID-19, suggesting that brain ageing alone may not necessarily produce symptoms read more Experiencing the COVID-19 pandemic may have accelerated brain ageing by five and a half months, regardless of one's infection status, according to a new study, which researchers said point to the indirect effects of aspects such as isolation and uncertainty. The researchers, led by those from the University of Nottingham, analysed brain scans of adults in the UK taken before and after the pandemic. They found that changes were most noticeable among the brains of older individuals, men, and people from disadvantaged backgrounds, such as those unemployed and having lower incomes or education. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD However, brain ageing was found to impact cognitive function, with 'brain fog' and difficulty in focussing being common symptoms, only in those who were infected with COVID-19, suggesting that brain ageing alone may not necessarily produce symptoms. The findings, published in the journal Nature Communications, highlight 'how much the experience of the pandemic itself, everything from isolation to uncertainty, may have affected our brain health,' said lead researcher Ali-Reza Mohammadi-Nejad, research fellow at the university's faculty of medicine and health sciences. 'What surprised me most was that even people who hadn't had Covid showed significant increases in brain ageing rates,' Mohammadi-Nejad added. According to the authors, the pandemic-related brain ageing 'may be at least partially reversible', but being strongly linked with socio-economic deprivation, the policies addressing inequalities are urgently needed, given that existing gaps widened during this time. AI-powered models which were used for predicting brain age were first trained on magnetic resonance image (MRI) brain scans of over 15,000 healthy people from the UK Biobank. The models thus learnt to measure the 'brain age gap' i.e. how much one's brain age differed from their actual age. The models were then employed to analyse two scans of the brains of 996 healthy participants, in 564 people (controls) both the scans were taken before the pandemic, while in the 'Pandemic' group consisting of 432 individuals, one scan was taken before and one after. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'The 'Pandemic' group shows on average (a) 5.5-month higher deviation of brain age gap at the second time point, compared with controls,' the authors wrote. They also found that 'accelerated brain ageing is more pronounced in males and those from deprived socio-demographic backgrounds and these deviations exist regardless of SARS-CoV-2 (virus that causes COVID-19) infection.' Further, cognitive tests taken at the time of both scans revealed that an 'accelerated brain ageing correlates with reduced cognitive performance only in COVID-infected participants.' Senior author Dorothee Auer, professor of neuroimaging at the University of Nottingham, said 'This study reminds us that brain health is shaped not only by illness, but by our everyday environment.' 'The pandemic put a strain on people's lives, especially those already facing disadvantage. We can't yet test whether the changes we saw will reverse, but it's certainly possible, and that's an encouraging thought,' Auer said.
News18
23-07-2025
- Health
- News18
Neuro scans of adults in UK reveal faster ageing of brain post-pandemic
Last Updated: New Delhi, Jul 23 (PTI) Experiencing the COVID-19 pandemic may have accelerated brain ageing by five and a half months, regardless of one's infection status, according to a new study, which researchers said point to the indirect effects of aspects such as isolation and uncertainty. The researchers, led by those from the University of Nottingham, analysed brain scans of adults in the UK taken before and after the pandemic. They found that changes were most noticeable among the brains of older individuals, men, and people from disadvantaged backgrounds, such as those unemployed and having lower incomes or education. However, brain ageing was found to impact cognitive function, with 'brain fog' and difficulty in focussing being common symptoms, only in those who were infected with COVID-19, suggesting that brain ageing alone may not necessarily produce symptoms. The findings, published in the journal Nature Communications, highlight 'how much the experience of the pandemic itself, everything from isolation to uncertainty, may have affected our brain health," said lead researcher Ali-Reza Mohammadi-Nejad, research fellow at the university's faculty of medicine and health sciences. 'What surprised me most was that even people who hadn't had Covid showed significant increases in brain ageing rates," Mohammadi-Nejad added. AI-powered models which were used for predicting brain age were first trained on magnetic resonance image (MRI) brain scans of over 15,000 healthy people from the UK Biobank. The models thus learnt to measure the 'brain age gap' i.e. how much one's brain age differed from their actual age. The models were then employed to analyse two scans of the brains of 996 healthy participants, in 564 people (controls) both the scans were taken before the pandemic, while in the 'Pandemic' group consisting of 432 individuals, one scan was taken before and one after. 'The 'Pandemic' group shows on average (a) 5.5-month higher deviation of brain age gap at the second time point, compared with controls," the authors wrote. They also found that 'accelerated brain ageing is more pronounced in males and those from deprived socio-demographic backgrounds and these deviations exist regardless of SARS-CoV-2 (virus that causes COVID-19) infection." Further, cognitive tests taken at the time of both scans revealed that an 'accelerated brain ageing correlates with reduced cognitive performance only in COVID-infected participants." Senior author Dorothee Auer, professor of neuroimaging at the University of Nottingham, said 'This study reminds us that brain health is shaped not only by illness, but by our everyday environment." 'The pandemic put a strain on people's lives, especially those already facing disadvantage. We can't yet test whether the changes we saw will reverse, but it's certainly possible, and that's an encouraging thought," Auer said. PTI KRS SHS NB view comments First Published: July 23, 2025, 16:15 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
22-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Fresh COVID-19 case detected in Odisha after two-and-a-half years, patient stable
A fresh COVID-19 case has been detected in Odisha after a gap of two-and-a-half years, and the condition of the patient is stable, a senior government official said here on Thursday. Health and Family Welfare Secretary S Aswathy said, "The patient is stable at present but the only concern is that the infected person has several comorbid conditions." Till now, neither the Union government nor the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has issued any advisory on COVID-19 transmission , she said. "The Health Department has been asked to monitor the situation and we are alert," she stated. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Villas In Dubai | Search Ads Get Rates Undo As per available information, sporadic COVID-19 cases are being detected in various parts of India and the patients are found infected with a mild strain, with the possibility of severity being very low, the health secretary said. "We have nothing to worry. We are monitoring the situation and are waiting for a fresh advisory from the Centre or the NCDC. Once we get it, we will take necessary steps accordingly," Aswathy said. Live Events She said no advisory has been issued for the public so far. "The situation is completely under control and there is no need to worry," she claimed. According to sources, the COVID-infected patient is undergoing treatment at a private hospital here. As per the COVID dashboard of the Odisha government, 26 cases were detected in the state on November 8, 2022.
Hans India
21-05-2025
- Health
- Hans India
No Covid case reported in Odisha
Bhubaneswar: Amid reports of the death of two COVID-infected patients in Maharashtra, the Health department of Odisha on Tuesday said no fresh coronavirus case was reported in the State. State Public Health Director Nilakantha Mishra said if anyone is found to be positive for the COVID infection, the sample of such a patient would be sent for genome sequencing to ascertain the variant of the virus. 'Till now, we have not detected any fresh COVID case. If we find such a patient, the sample will be sent for genome sequencing to determine its variant,' he said. Health authorities in India are keeping an eye on reports of a rise in COVID-19 cases in Singapore and Hong Kong, even as official sources on Monday asserted that the current coronavirus situation in the country was under control. 'However, people, especially those having co-morbidity, have to remain careful and take standard precautionary measures,' Mishra advised. Civic-run KEM Hospital on Monday clarified that the deaths of two patients at the medical facility in Mumbai were due to co-morbidities and not linked to COVID-19, as it advised people not to panic. The deaths of two COVID-19-infected patients — a 14-year-old girl and a woman aged 54 — have been reported at King Edward Memorial (KEM) Hospital in Parel, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said in a statement.
