Long COVID Linked to 18% Drop in Brain Dopamine Nerve Endings, PET Study Finds
A small PET study (24 long COVID patients and 24 controls) found about an 18% reduction in dopamine nerve endings in the striatum of people with long COVID, with ventral striatum changes linked to lower motivation and dorsal striatum changes tied to slower movement and memory issues. The alterations persisted for up to 4.6 years after infection, suggesting the dopaminergic system as a potential biomarker for diagnosis and a target for treatment. The study’s sample is small, but researchers plan a clinical trial repurposing a dopamine-influencing drug, highlighting the need for validated long COVID therapies and better access to care.
