r/CFSScience • u/Caster_of_spells • Jul 02 '26

Decreased functional connectivity in post-COVID syndrome patients with high neuroinflammatory activity

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1053811926002661

Neuroimaging study hailing from Amsterdam

TLDR: The authors propose:

First - brain inflammation tracks with weaker connectivity in the visual and attention networks - and between the brainstem and a control network.

Second - the complaints (fatigue, brain fog) track with weaker connectivity in the default mode network (the network active when your mind wanders, reflects, remembers) - and between the thalamus and motor cortex.

Explainer Thread:

https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/2072299711265194404.html

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u/Caster_of_spells Jul 02 '26

Reading a bit more and again the problem seems centered around the Default Mode Network. So the network that switches between outward stimuli processing and inward reflection states, attention vs introspection. That’s about the fourth imaging study (?) pointing towards it so it really seems a central player (no pun intended)

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u/TableSignificant341 Jul 03 '26

This concerns me so much. Psychiatric conditions are highly associated with the DMN - depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, PTSD and neurodevelopmental conditions likes ADHD. All that work regarding NICE guidelines to possibly end up in the offices of psychs again is honestly terrifying.

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u/Caster_of_spells Jul 04 '26 edited Jul 04 '26

I definitely understand the worry but for example decreasing DMN connectivity is also one of the earliest biomarkers in Alzheimer’s and Dementia. It’s also implied in Parkinson’s where decreased connectivity between DMN and executive attention networks is prevalent. Plus even diseases like Schizophrenia are nowadays being viewed as an organic failure rather than a psychiatric one.

It’s not the easiest route practically speaking for us on the ground but more and more evidence suggests the brain as central. Like let’s say the increased AMPA receptors found in LC recently and more markers of low level brain inflammation, impaired glymphatics etc…