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Diseases

Long COVID May Accelerate Cognitive Decline and Neurodegeneration in Older Adults

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

New research on Coronavirus - COVID-19 has revealed concerning findings on the potential long-term effects of the virus on older adults. According to the study, individuals who experience lingering symptoms following SARS-CoV-2 infection, known as long COVID, may be at risk of accelerating cognitive decline and neurodegeneration. The research, conducted at the University of California, examined neuroimaging-based markers of blood-brain barrier (BBB) breakdown and brain microstructure among older adults with long COVID.

Key Takeaways:

  • Long COVID is characterized by lingering symptoms following SARS-CoV-2 infection, which may include neurological and cognitive complaints, such as memory loss and subcortical microstructural abnormalities.
  • Hypothesized mechanisms, including BBB dysfunction and neuroinflammation, are shared with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related dementias.
  • The study found that older adults with long COVID exhibited cognitive impairment, BBB breakdown, and subcortical microstructural abnormalities, with sex-specific patterns and deleterious associations between brain and memory abnormalities.
  • Individuals with elevated AD genetic risk experienced more pronounced associations between BBB permeability and memory and microstructure.
  • The research highlights the need for precision medicine diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for long COVID, particularly for older adults with elevated AD genetic risk.

Statistics:

  • 61% of the study participants were women.
  • The study compared cognitive and brain measures between individuals with neurological long COVID (NLCV) and cognitively normal controls using analysis of covariance.
  • NLCV exhibited cognitive impairment, BBB breakdown, and subcortical microstructural abnormalities compared to controls.
  • BBB leakage was widespread across the brain and more pronounced among men, whereas white matter and subcortical microstructural differences were stronger among women.
  • Higher caudate BBB permeability correlated with worse immediate recall only for individuals with elevated genetic risk.

Sources:

  • NewsRx. Researchers at University of California Target COVID-19 (Long COVID-related blood-brain barrier breakdown and microstructure in older adults are modified by sex and Alzheimer's disease genetic risk). Genomics & Genetics Weekly. August 29, 2025; p 225.
  • Long COVID-related blood-brain barrier breakdown and microstructure in older adults are modified by sex and Alzheimer's disease genetic risk. Imaging Neuroscience, 2025;3

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