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The Hindu
3 days ago
- Health
- The Hindu
COVID-19's hidden toll: how the pandemic has aged our brains
The COVID-19 pandemic left its mark on our bodies in ways we are only now beginning to understand. Beyond the familiar symptoms of fever and cough, scientists have discovered something deeply concerning: the virus and the stress of the pandemic are literally ageing our brains faster than normal. The research shows that COVID-19 doesn't just affect our lungs—it attacks our brain health, potentially adding months or even years to our biological brain age. This discovery has profound implications for millions of people worldwide, especially as we learn more about long COVID or Post-Acute Sequalae of COVID-19 (PASC) and its lasting effects. What we are learning about brain ageing Think of your brain like a car. Just as a car accumulates wear and tear over time, our brains naturally age as we get older. Scientists can now measure this process using advanced brain scans to determine someone's 'brain age'—how old the brain appears compared to the person's actual age. In healthy people, brain age typically matches chronological age fairly closely. But recent studies have found something alarming: people exposed to COVID-19 or even just the pandemic environment show brains that appear significantly older than expected. A major study using brain scan data from over 15,000 healthy adults found that people exposed to the pandemic environment showed an average brain age increase of 5.5 months compared to those studied before the pandemic. Even more concerning, this acceleration was more pronounced in men and those from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds. The double whammy: virus plus stress COVID-19 appears to age brains through two main pathways. First, the virus itself is neurotropic—meaning it can invade and directly damage brain tissue. Studies show that SARS-CoV-2 has been found in neural tissues up to 230 days after infection, and immune system activation has persisted for as long as 2.5 years. Second, the psychological stress and social isolation of the pandemic created a perfect storm for brain health. Researchers found that when people were shown faces labelled as 'infected,' their brains responded with elevated activity in fear and stress regions, including areas critical for memory and emotion. This suggests that fear of the virus alone can alter how our brains function. Perhaps nowhere is this brain aging more apparent than in long COVID patients. Studies tracking COVID survivors for three years found that among those who weren't hospitalised, the brain still showed signs of ongoing damage, with cognitive issues persisting years after infection. Long COVID affects at least 10% of people recovering from COVID-19 infections and possibly up to 50-70% of those who were hospitalised. Hallmark symptoms include brain fog, memory problems, difficulty concentrating, and persistent fatigue—all signs that the brain is struggling to function normally. Brain scans of COVID survivors have shown measurable drops in cognitive abilities, with statistical significance, suggesting real physical changes in brain structure and function. Particularly troubling is evidence that young people haven't escaped this brain ageing effect. Studies of adolescents before and after pandemic shutdowns found significantly higher levels of anxiety and depression, along with brain scans showing signs of accelerated brain maturation equivalent to 5-6 months beyond their actual age. These effects varied by gender, with teenage girls showing widespread brain changes across 30 regions, including areas crucial for social and emotional processing, corresponding to about 4.2 years of accelerated aging. These findings suggest that the social and educational disruptions of the pandemic may have lasting effects on developing brains. The science behind the damage How exactly does COVID-19 age our brains? The process involves several mechanisms working together: Inflammation: The virus triggers widespread inflammation throughout the body, including the brain. This chronic inflammation damages brain cells and disrupts normal brain function. Blood-Brain barrier breakdown: COVID-19 can damage the protective barrier that normally keeps harmful substances out of the brain, allowing inflammation and toxins to enter. Oxygen deprivation: Even mild COVID infections can reduce oxygen levels, starving brain cells of the fuel they need to function properly. Immune system confusion: The virus can cause the immune system to attack healthy brain tissue, similar to autoimmune diseases. What this means for recovery times The latest three-year studies show both good and concerning news. Among people who had mild COVID and weren't hospitalised, the increased risk of death disappeared after the first year, and most brain-related symptoms improved significantly over time. However, those who were hospitalised during their COVID infection, continued to show elevated death rates and persistent brain problems even three years later, with substantial ongoing health impacts. This suggests that the severity of the initial infection plays a crucial role in long-term brain health outcomes. The news however, isn't all doom and gloom. Innovative treatment approaches are showing promise in reversing some of these effects. At specialised clinics, patients with persistent long COVID symptoms have seen significant improvements using comprehensive treatment programmes that combine advanced neurotechnology with holistic therapies. Integrative neurorehabilitation, driven by neurotechnology and holistic therapies, can improve outcomes in individuals with Long COVID. Such interventions not only alleviate symptoms but may also slow or reverse the neurocognitive aging seen in this population. The road ahead As we continue to understand COVID-19's long-term effects, it is clear that brain health must be a priority in recovery efforts. With an estimated 65 million people worldwide living with long COVID symptoms, the scale of this challenge requires coordinated medical research and treatment approaches. The pandemic has taught us that infectious diseases can have effects far beyond their initial symptoms. By taking brain ageing seriously and developing comprehensive treatment approaches, we can help millions of people recover not just their physical health, but their cognitive abilities as well. Understanding these effects is the first step toward healing. With continued research and innovative treatments, there's reason for hope that we can help mitigate the neurological impacts of the pandemic and restore brain health through multidisciplinary and personalised care paradigms. (Dr. Rema Raghu is chief clinical officer, Buddhi Clinic, Chennai. drrema@ Vivek Misra is senior consultant , neuromodulation and clinical sciences, Buddhi Clinic; Thyagarajan S. is research assistant, Buddhi Clinic)
North Wales Live
27-07-2025
- Business
- North Wales Live
Life becomes a nightmare for hunderds of Welsh holiday let owners snared by hidden legal trap
Thousands of holiday let owners in Wales have been left bewildered after being hit with massive council tax bills out of the blue. It comes as an industry survey suggests nearly half of the country's self-catering businesses are now losing money, or barely breaking even, after failing achieve new letting targets set by the government. A little-known change in the law has seen many owners receiving council tax demands that often run into tens of thousands. Payments are often expected within seven days with the prospect of legal proceedings if they fail to settle. The huge bills stem from a legal technicality over the number of nights a property has been let. Although many owners believed they have met new letting thresholds set by the Welsh Government, and so thought they would not be liable for council tax, they've been caught out by a legislative pitfall. According to critics, it's left the holiday let sector in Wales on a 'cliff-edge'. The Professional Association of Self-Caterers (PASC) said it is currently dealing with hundreds of cases with more inquiries coming in every day from disbelieving owners bereft at the iniquity of the situation. A Welsh-speaking family letting out the family home in Abersoch, Gwynedd, is facing a three-year bill for £21,000 despite meeting all of what they thought to be their targets. They say Cyngor Gwynedd is understanding but the situation is placing intolerable demands on the property's 85-year-old owner. Meanwhile, a couple in Flintshire have received a demand for nearly £10,000. Colin and Rebecca Jones, from Afonwen, were left shocked to get a 'ridiculous' bill for a small two-person cottage just 8ft-9ft from the family home, a former mill with its old water wheel still in the garden. 'You can imagine the stress,' said Rebecca, an NHS personal assistant. 'It's horrendous. It's having a terrible impact on our lives and we're now having to look at all options, including annexing the properties and stripping out the cottage's kitchen.' Join the North Wales Live Whatsapp community now Since launching their business in February 2022, Colin and Rebecca have met what they thought were their required targets. In the first year, they hit 164 nights – way over the 70-night threshold that apparently existed at the time. When the bar was raised in April 2023, requiring owners to let their properties for at least 182 nights, they redoubled their efforts and, with price-cutting, they managed to meet the 182-night target in the subsequent two years. In the current financial year, they've so far let the cottage for 101 nights and are confident of reaching the target again. Hitting the lettings threshold is important as it qualifies owners for cheaper business rates rather than more expensive second home council tax, which often come with an added 'second home' premium. As this premium is as high as 200% in some counties - effectively trebling council tax bills – it can make the difference between a business succeeding or failing Colin and Rebecca were shocked to discover that, when assessed by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), they were deemed to have failed to have met their letting targets. Like many owners, they believed that as the law only changed from April 2023, they only needed to reach the new letting thresholds from then on. They hadn't realised the 182-night rule applies retrospectively - meaning they missed the threshold in the first year. This made them liable for council tax for each of the past three years. Nicky Williamson, Wales policy lead at PASC Cymru, said she was not surprised so many people can't understand what's going on. 'We're getting lots of exasperated calls every day,' she said. 'It's very confusing and it's difficult for people to get their heads around what's happening. Assessments must be made on a daily basis, so we have situations where owners are getting notices on March 31 saying they met the 70-day target, followed by notices on April 1 saying they hadn't as the rules had changed. 'It's awful, a total minefield. But whether we like it or not, unfortunately it's the law. We're working with the VOA on this issue and, to be fair, they're doing their best within the legal limitations. But they're in a pretty impossible situation, now facing extra demands at a time when they're already dealing with huge backlogs.' The upshot is that the 70-night target was an illusion for most holiday lets in Wales in 2022-23. The situation has been compared to a football match where, late in the second half, players are told the rules have changed and the goalposts have been shifted. Local authorities are not at fault – they can only act on VOA assessments of a property's status based on the law at the time. The fall-out is sending shockwaves through a sector that's already struggling to meet the higher 182-night threshold. Of the estimated 22,000 short-term lets in Wales, feedback suggests around half are failing to hit the target. For owners, the ramifications are disastrous. In a recent PASC Cymru survey, 47% of owners now paying premium council taxes said they are now losing money. In North Wales, only Wrexham Council doesn't charge a second home premium. Elsewhere, it ranges from 100% (double) to 200% (treble). Councils justify the policy as a necessary measure to manage the proliferation of holiday and second homes, aiming to alleviate the housing crisis. But with tourism a major contributor to the Welsh economy, critics claim the approach risks hobbling the industry. Nicky noted the typical holiday let in Wales is a two-bedroom cottage. 'The average turnover for these businesses is £20,000 which, after costs, returns an average profit of £3,000,' she said. 'So it's easy to see why nearly half of all lets are now losing money when faced with large council tax demands, some of them unexpected. Being moved to council tax from business rates is associated with around half of Welsh self-catering businesses becoming non-viable.' Amongst the worst cases known to PASC involves a three-generation, Welsh-speaking family forced to give up their home of 50 years. After buying a derelict farm, they developed it into a five-star holiday let complex with four cottages, focusing on family holidays for more than 20 years. When they received a back-dated council tax demand for £37,000, they had no option but to sell up. Feeling misled When recovering council taxes, local authorities have some discretion. However, Freedom of Information requests by PASC Cymru indicate few are applying it. An exception appears to be Cyngor Gwynedd. According to the Abersoch owners facing a £21,000 bill, they're now stuck in an endless cycle of demands, followed by pleas for delays and clemency. Invariably these are agreed, only for renewed demands to arrive in the post a few weeks later. They too met all their official letting targets – or so they thought. 'We are a Welsh family from the area who have owned this house since the 1930s,' said the owner's daughter, who asked not to be named. 'We are not someone who has bought into the area. This is a family home handed down the generations that we still use as well as letting it out. 'The council must have hundreds of owners in a similar position. They tell us they are waiting for the government to sort it out. In the meantime we're facing large and unfair bills.' Many in the industry consider the rule changes amounted to retrospective legislation. Although VOA letters were sent to holiday let owners in October 2022, alerting them to the upcoming changes, awareness remains low. Even had the sector realised the implications at the time, few businesses would have been able to shift gears and increase lettings to make up the difference, having missed the busy summer season. Many in the sector feel misled. PASC Cymru said there's little holiday let owners can do. 'It's difficult to challenge the legislation,' said Nicky Williamson. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox Feeling trapped The VOA is encouraging all holiday let owners to continue paying their council taxes or business rates whilst any cases are reviewed. A spokesperson said: 'Following Welsh Government's announcement of the new business rates criteria for self-catering properties, we wrote to all self-catering property owners in October 2022 to let them know about upcoming changes and how this would be assessed. 'If businesses feel they have been incorrectly assessed they can provide evidence for our teams to review. If a customer informs us that they are experiencing financial hardship we will prioritise their case.' In Afonwen, Colin and Rebecca now feel trapped. As things stand, making a profit is difficult enough without large and unexpected bills. Mothballing their holiday let would not only depreciate the property, it would attract an empty home premium. Like the second home equivalent in Flintshire, this currently amounts to 100% on top of standard council tax bills. From next year, Flintshire's empty home premium will be levied on a sliding scale ranging from 150%-300%. In an attempt to stop the two properties being considered separate homes, one option being explored is to link them together via an extension, and stripping out the cottage kitchen. It's an approach that's been tried elsewhere in Wales but PASC Cymru said a legal precedent has yet to be set. Colin, a quantity survey, is determined to fight for justice and has raised a formal complaint with the VOA. He said: 'This is not a second home, it is literally less than 10 steps from our back door. We do not go there for weekends or on holiday!'
Borneo Post
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Borneo Post
Spanish open water team in Kuching for final prep ahead of World Aquatics Championships in Singapore
Spanish open water swim team members are seen at the Pandelela Rinong Aquatic Centre in Kuching. KUCHING (July 10): The Spanish national open water swim team has selected Kuching as their final training base before heading to the World Aquatics Championships 2025 in Singapore. Manager Ricardo Barreda cited the city's similar climate and convenient logistics as key factors in the decision. The team comprises three top-level swimmers: María de Valdés, 27, a silver medallist in the 10km open water event at the 2024 World Championships in Doha; Ángela Martínez, 21, who placed 10th at the Paris 2024 Olympics; and Paula Otero, also 21, who recently secured silver at the 2025 European Championships in the newly-introduced 3km Knockout event. Accompanied by their coach and gym instructor, the team members arrived in Kuching on July 6 and are scheduled to depart for Singapore on July 12, just ahead of the open water competition, which will be held on July 15-20 in the sea off Sentosa Island. Their week-long training camp was made possible with the support of Power Aquatics Swimming Club, which assisted with arrangements for training facilities and accommodation. The athletes are currently based at the Pandelela Rinong Aquatic Centre, where they are adjusting to race-day conditions expected in Singapore. 'We came here mainly because the climate and time zone are very similar to Singapore,' Barreda explained. 'Coming from Spain with a six-hour time difference, it's crucial for the athletes to adjust before race day. Singapore's sea temperature is expected to reach around 30 degrees Celsius, and our swimmers need to be physically and mentally adapted to that.' The demands of open water swimming require intense preparation, especially when races last up to two hours under high heat and humidity. 'It's like a marathon in the sea,' Barreda said. 'Managing core body temperature is critical, particularly in the final stages of a 10km race. That's why hydration strategies during the race are crucial.' (Front from left) Power Aquatics Swimming Club (PASC) founder Voon Yong Hui is seen with de Valdés, Otero, and Martínez. Barreda is at back second left. Team members have found Kuching's quiet and compact setting to be ideal for focused preparation. 'It's just a one-hour-and-10-minute flight to Singapore, and the weather here is nearly identical. Unlike Kuala Lumpur, which is large and hectic, Kuching is quiet, easy to move around in, and everything from the pool to the airport is easily accessible. That really helps the athletes stay relaxed and focused,' Barreda said. 'The facilities at the aquatic centre are very good and we're comfortable here.' He said Spain is aiming for a breakthrough in the open water discipline. 'We believe this year's team participants in the championship is stronger than before. Our goal is to be among the top eight and we're shooting for it with confidence.' The World Aquatics Championships 2025 will take place in Singapore from July 11 to Aug 3, featuring elite competition across swimming, diving, artistic swimming, water polo, high diving, and open water swimming.
Business Recorder
01-07-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Agenda of sustainable economic progress being implemented: Ahsan
LAHORE: Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal said on Monday the government is implementing an agenda of sustainable economic progress. 'The government is pursuing a goal of achieving taking economy of Pakistan to one trillion dollar by the year 2035,' Ahsan said, adding: 'Our development model is to transform economic development through exports.' While inaugurating a modern classroom at the Pakistan Administrative Staff College (PASC)/ National School of Public Policy (NSPP) here Monday, Ahsan presented a comprehensive roadmap for governance reforms and institutional performance improvement, emphasising the transition from a procedure-focused to a mission-driven bureaucracy. 'The country is facing a crucial moment requiring data-driven, technology-enabled and accountable governance,' he said, adding: 'We must build institutions that are policy-consistent and shielded from political volatility, ensure transparency in decision-making, foster agility to respond to changing demands and instil responsibility in the use of public resources.' Ahsan Iqbal outlined the government's long-term economic vision under the banner of 'URAAN Pakistan', which aims at making Pakistan a $1 trillion economy by 2035. He said the strategy is built on the five pillars of the 5Es: Exports, E-Pakistan, Environment, Energy & Infrastructure and Equity & Empowerment. The minister said steps are being taken to restore public confidence in good governance, by following the policy of making bureaucracy a stable, transparent, agile and responsible. He also urged the officers to play a leading role in enabling export-led growth, digitising government operations, building climate resilience, improving infrastructure delivery and ensuring inclusive development. He said the civil servants must play their vital role for Pakistan's transformation, adding that the system must be reformed to deliver better outcomes. He introduced the STAR model — Stable, Transparent, Agile and Responsible — as a governance framework to guide civil service transformation. He commended the role of civil servants to make the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) a success which showed the dedication of Pakistan's civil servants. He reminded the participants that public service is a responsibility and leadership in Islam is a duty, not a privilege. The minister encouraged the course participants to take part in the training with a spirit of service, creativity and commitment to the national development. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Medscape
19-06-2025
- Health
- Medscape
Post-Acute COVID Biomarker Patterns Vary by Symptom and Time
In patients with post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), biomarker profiles varied according to symptom type and time since infection, and levels of inflammatory biomarkers (IFN gamma and CD163) and vascular activation biomarkers (VCAM-1 and ICAM-1) showed strong correlations with specific long-COVID symptoms. METHODOLOGY: PASC affects a considerable number of people after mild acute SARS-CoV-2 infection, but data on its pathophysiologic mechanisms remain limited. In this study, researchers explored symptoms associated with PASC and examined its association with a range of blood biomarkers. They included participants with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection either asymptomatic or without persistent symptoms categorized into recovered (n = 490) and PASC (n = 311) groups, using data from three French population-based cohorts collected between February 2020 and October 2021. Participants received two home visits at baseline and 6 months for biological sample collection and completed questionnaires covering medical history, infection status, vaccination status, symptoms, and mental health. Researchers assessed 14 blood biomarkers, including cytokines, chemokines, immune checkpoints, cell adhesion molecules, and markers of macrophage activation and vascular damage, which are known to be involved in the pathophysiologic mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 infection. TAKEAWAY: Participants with PASC commonly reported persistent fatigue, breathlessness, cough, and sleep disorders, along with higher rates of depression and anxiety. Inflammatory biomarkers linked to COVID-19 severity (IFN gamma and CD163) and vascular activation markers (VCAM-1 and ICAM-1) showed significant correlations with specific PASC symptoms, particularly among participants infected within the past year; however, these associations largely disappeared over time. Viral activation markers (PD-L1 and IP-10) were positively associated with acute-phase symptoms such as anosmia/ageusia and cough, particularly in recent infections. Complete symptom resolution was more common among participants with recent infections (< 1 year ago) than among those infected a year ago, occurring in 38% vs 20% of cases ( P = .04). Overall, 74% of individuals experienced a resolution of at least one symptom. IN PRACTICE: 'Biomarker profiles appear to vary according to symptom type and the time elapsed since infection. Consequently, research efforts and treatment strategies should take these parameters into account,' the authors wrote. SOURCE: This study was led by Olivier Robineau, Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Institut Pierre-Louis d'Épidémiologie et de Santé Publique, Paris, France. It was published online on May 30, 2025, in eBioMedicine . LIMITATIONS: Individuals with more severe symptoms may have been particularly motivated to participate, introducing selection bias. Additionally, as most biomarker measurements were taken long after participants' initial infection and only a few participants had recent infections, the ability to identify associations specific to the acute phase was likely diminished. DISCLOSURES: This study received funding from the French Ministry of Health and Prevention and the French Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation. Two authors disclosed receiving financial support from Gilead, ViiV, MSD, Moderna, or Pfizer or nonfinancial support from Nordic Pharma France.
