Brain scans link long COVID fatigue to loss of dopamine neurons

A PET imaging study by CAMH found reduced markers of dopamine-releasing neurons in the striatum of people with long COVID. Marker loss in different regions correlated with loss of motivation, slower movement and memory problems. A clinical trial targeting dopamine function is planned within months.

• PET scans showed lower dopamine neuron markers across all major striatum regions in long COVID
• Ventral striatum loss linked to reduced motivation, dorsal putamen to slower movement
• Long COVID affects about 5% of the global population, roughly 2 million in Canada
• A clinical trial with UHN is planned to start in the coming months