Long COVID’s brain fog finally has a biological explanation: Dopamine loss

For many people living with Long COVID, “brain fog” isn’t just forgetfulness.

It can mean struggling to concentrate, losing your train of thought, memory difficulties, slowed thinking, fatigue and a loss of motivation that can affect everyday life.

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Now, new research is helping us understand what may be happening beneath those symptoms.

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A recent brain-imaging study found significantly lower levels of VMAT2, a marker associated with dopamine-releasing nerve terminals, in people with Long COVID and persistent neuropsychiatric symptoms. Researchers observed reductions of around 16–20% across areas of the striatum involved in movement, motivation and cognition. Importantly, these changes were also associated with symptoms including apathy, slower movement and memory decline. 

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The study was small, involving 24 people with Long COVID and 24 age-matched controls, so further research is needed. But findings like these matter.

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Because when someone says, “I don’t feel like myself anymore,” there may be complex biological changes behind what they are experiencing.

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At mOI Health, this is part of why we believe your health story matters.

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Symptoms can change over time. They can overlap. Test results don’t always immediately explain how someone feels. Keeping track of symptoms, patterns, treatments and changes can help create a clearer picture of the journey rather than looking at each moment in isolation.

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The more we understand about conditions like Long COVID, the clearer one thing becomes: listening to patients and understanding the full picture of their health matters.

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#LongCOVID #BrainFog #ChronicIllness #PatientExperience #DigitalHealth #mOIHealth