Queensland scientists have found similarities between how COVID-19 and chronic fatigue syndrome affect the brain. 

Researchers at Griffith University have used an ultra-high-field MRI to see exactly how the conditions impacted the brains of 28 patients.

The tests found major similarities in a person’s brain stem volume, giving researchers hope that a treatment for chronic fatigue could also work for long COVID.

But Wesley Hospital outpatient rehabilitation lead Matt Green told Sofie Formica more research needs to be done before an effective treatment plan is established.

“We’d like to see a little more research come out in that space before we start making definitive interventions down that path,” he said.

“But in terms of the way that we’ve been doing it from a physical rehabilitation standpoint, it’s great to see that we can give some of these patients some much-needed answers.”

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Image: Griffith University