Pang et al. (2026)
- Authors: Huize Pang, Jennifer Frontera, Li Jiang, Chenyang Li, Allal Boutajangout, Zhe Sun, Ludovic Debure, Mobeena Ghuman, Alok Vedvyas, Arjun Masurkar, Thomas Wisniewski, Yulin Ge
- Institutes: Department of Radiology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA, Department of Neurology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA, Center for Cognitive Neurology, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
- Publisher: Alzheimer’s & Dementia
- Link: DOI
Summary
This research highlights a potential biological link between Long COVID and increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease through damage to the brain’s waste-clearance and immune-regulating structures. By identifying the choroid plexus as a site of long-term immune injury, the study opens new avenues for using brain imaging to monitor cognitive health in the millions of people affected by post-viral syndromes.
What was researched?
This study investigated structural and perfusion changes in the choroid plexus of patients with Long COVID, specifically examining its volume and blood flow.
Why was it researched?
Researchers aimed to determine if neuroinflammation and damage to the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier, indicated by choroid plexus alterations, are linked to cognitive decline and biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease in Long COVID patients.
How was it researched?
The study utilized MRI imaging and blood analysis to compare 86 Long COVID patients, 67 recovered COVID patients, and 26 healthy controls. Researchers measured choroid plexus volume and blood flow while evaluating plasma biomarkers of brain injury and performance on standardized cognitive tests.
What has been found?
Long COVID patients exhibited a 10% larger choroid plexus volume and reduced blood flow compared to recovered individuals. These brain alterations were significantly correlated with higher levels of neurodegenerative markers like p-tau217 and worse performance on memory and attention assessments.
Discussion
The findings suggest that chronic immune responses in Long COVID may cause swelling and scarring in the choroid plexus, potentially hindering waste clearance in the brain. However, the study’s cross-sectional design means it cannot yet confirm if these changes directly cause future dementia.
Conclusion & Future Work
Choroid plexus imaging may serve as a critical marker for tracking neurological symptoms and Alzheimer’s-related pathology in post-COVID patients. The authors suggest that larger, long-term studies are necessary to determine if these brain changes can predict which patients will develop permanent cognitive issues.