The Pandemic Literally Aged Our Brains | Impact Factor | Medscape

Описание: Recent research suggests that the stressors of the COVID-19 pandemic may have resulted in accelerated brain aging by an average of five and a half months.

In this episode of Impact Factor, F. Perry Wilson, MD examines a significant study published in Nature Communications that utilized the UK Biobank to analyze the neurological health of participants. By comparing MRI scans taken before and after the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers used machine learning to determine the "brain age gap." The results indicate that cognitive function and brain structure were impacted not just by the virus itself, but by the secondary effects of the era, including social isolation and chronic stress. This analysis provides a clearer picture of how large-scale mental health stressors can physically alter the human brain over a short period.

00:00 - The Pandemic’s Impact on Brain Age
00:31 - How SARS-CoV-2 Affects Neurological Function
01:46 - Social and Environmental Stressors on the Brain
02:16 - Measuring Brain Age with MRI and Machine Learning
03:54 - Insights from the UK Biobank Study
05:30 - Viral Infection vs. Pandemic Lifestyle Factors
06:34 - Long-Term Neurological Outlook Post-Pandemic

#BrainHealth #Neurology #COVID19 #BrainAge #UKBiobank #MedicalResearch #Neuroscience #PublicHealth #MentalHealth #ImpactFactor

For transcripts, references, and more: https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/...