Long COVID dopamine neuron injury study

A study led by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) in Canada, published in eBioMedicine, provides the strongest evidence to date that long COVID is associated with injury to dopamine-releasing neurons in the brain. Using PET imaging, researchers found reduced dopamine nerve terminal density in the striatum of long COVID patients compared to healthy controls, correlating with symptoms like lack of motivation, slowed movement, and memory difficulties. The findings suggest long COVID is partly a dopamine system disorder and open the door to repurposing dopamine-boosting medications. CAMH plans a clinical trial with University Health Network to test such therapies. The study was supported by the Canada — Canadian Institutes of Health Research.