COVID-Related Brain Damage

WARNING:

BEFORE AND AFTER COVID, BRAIN SCANS REVEAL DAMAGE TO THE BRAIN

(From Daniel Amen M.D. post on Facebook April 12, 2022. Dr. Amen is a Board Certified Medical Neurologist and Psychologist)

New brain imaging research from the University of Oxford shows that having COVID-even mild cases that don’t require hospitalization, can damage the brain in multiple ways.

At the Amen Clinics, before and after brain SPECT scans (functional imaging) of patients who had COVID reveal additional harmful changes in the brain. Based on the latest findings, here are seven ways COVID (and possibly COVID vaccinations) impacts the brain.

1. BRAIN SHRINKAGE: A British study of 785 volunteers underwent MRI scans, and a large majority showed 2% or more brain shrinkage.
2. UP TO A DECADE OF BRAIN AGING: According to United Kingdom researchers, a 2% reduction in brain volume is equivalent to 10 years of aging.
3. THE CEREBELLUM TAKES A LARGE HIT: Most of the brain shrinkage is in the area of the cerebellum.
4. BRAIN “THINNING” IN CERTAIN REGIONS: Research shows two critical areas of thinning in the orbitofrontal cortex and parahippocampal region, resulting in a loss of smell. A loss of smell is one of the very earliest signs of DEMENTIA, many years before you begin losing your memory.
5. EVEN MILD COVID CASES CAUSE BRAIN DAMAGE.
6. BIGGER IMPACT ON OLDER ADULTS: The age limit for the worse long-term results of COVID (and possibly vaccinations) is 51-81 years of age.
7. OVERACTIVITY IN THE BRAIN’S EMOTIONAL CENTERS: This takes place in the brain’s LIMBIC system. Overactivity in this region can cause long-term depression and anxiety.

NOTE: The above neurological issues may be immediate or several weeks/months before taking place.

HEALING A DAMAGED BRAIN

No “medical cure” exists for post-COVID or post-COVID vaccine-related neurological issues. In other words, pharmacy (pills) and conventional physical therapy does not work well in these cases.

The best possible management for symptoms and a chance for a considerable degree of reversal and recovery of the brain trauma from COVID is:

• FUNCTIONAL NEUROLOGICAL BRAIN REHABILITATION (problem-directed brain therapy)
• BRAIN-BASED EXERCISES
• DIET AND NUTRITION

This will therefore create as much Neuroplasticity and long-term improvement in the patient’s brain as possible.

If you have any questions about functional neurological rehabilitation (brain rehabilitation) or would like to schedule a brain function evaluation, please call me at 502-296-3581.