A new study from the University of Nottingham suggests the Covid pandemic may have left a very real impact on our brains, even if we were never sick with the virus.
After analysing the data of over 15,000 adults via the UK Biobank – a treasure trove of scans, samples and more from half a million people – scientists, with the help of artificial intelligence, compared brain ages seen in two distinct groups.
One group had multiple brain scans taken before the pandemic over a set period of time, showing the pre-pandemic rate of brain ageing, while the second group included those with scans taken both before and during the pandemic.
Via this method, researchers found on average the human brain aged five and a half months faster during the pandemic than it did pre-2020.
"This study reminds us that brain health is shaped not only by illness, but by our everyday environment," explains Dorothee Auer, Professor of Neuroimaging and senior author on the study. "The pandemic put a strain on people's lives, especially those already facing disadvantage. We can't yet test whether the changes we saw will reverse, but it's certainly possible, and that’s an encouraging thought."
The University study reports that "the changes were most noticeable in older individuals, in men, and in people from more disadvantaged backgrounds".
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It's a staunch reminder of just how big an impact stress and worry can have on our minds and bodies.
"What surprised me most was that even people who hadn't had COVID showed significant increases in brain aging rates," added neurologist Ali-Reza Mohammadi-Nejad, who also worked on the study.
"It really shows how much the experience of the pandemic itself, everything from isolation to uncertainty, may have affected our brain health."
Jennifer Savin is Cosmopolitan UK's multiple award-winning Features Editor, who was crowned Digital Journalist of the Year for her work tackling the issues most important to young women. She regularly covers breaking news, cultural trends, health, the royals and more, using her esteemed connections to access the best experts along the way. She's grilled everyone from high-profile politicians to A-list celebrities, and has sensitively interviewed hundreds of people about their real life stories. In addition to this, Jennifer is widely known for her own undercover investigations and campaign work, which includes successfully petitioning the government for change around topics like abortion rights and image-based sexual abuse. Jennifer is also a published author, documentary consultant (helping to create BBC’s Deepfake Porn: Could You Be Next?) and a patron for Y.E.S. (a youth services charity). Alongside Cosmopolitan, Jennifer has written for The Times, Women’s Health, ELLE and numerous other publications, appeared on podcasts, and spoken on (and hosted) panels for the Women of the World Festival, the University of Manchester and more. In her spare time, Jennifer is a big fan of lipstick, leopard print and over-ordering at dinner. Follow Jennifer on Instagram, X or LinkedIn.
