Study Reveals Pandemic Causes Brain To Grow Faster, Even Without COVID-19 Infection

JAKARTA - The COVID-19 pandemic not only attacks the body, but also secretly affects the brain, even for those who have never been infected. A recent study from the UK revealed that the human brain experiences faster shrinking and aging during the pandemic. This has an impact on thinking and memory skills.

The most surprising thing is that this change is not solely due to the virus, but also because of stress, social isolation, and drastic changes in life patterns.

"Stress prolonged during the pandemic appears to leave a real mark on the brain, even for people who have not been infected with COVID-19," said Ali-Reza Mohammadi-Nejad, a researcher from the University of Nottingham who led the study, quoted from the Times of India website.

In a study published in the journal Nature Communications, the researchers analyzed nearly 1,000 brain scans from UK Biobank data, a health project that has tracked more than 500,000 health people since 2006.

The results show that during the pandemic (2021'2022), the participant's brains averaged 5.5 months earlier than they should have been. This shrinkage occurs mainly in the nervous system, an important area for memory, emotional, and decision-making functions.

It's not just sick people who are affected. This brain aging also occurs in healthy people physically. This shows how strong environmental influences and life experiences are on our brains," said Mohammadi-Nejad.

This effect is more pronounced in both men and individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.

In addition to physical changes in the brain, researchers found a decline in cognitive function in people who had been infected with COVID-19, such as difficulty focusing, slow thinking, and less flexible in thinking.

However, for those who are not infected, there is no clear evidence of cognitive decline. Even so, experts warn that changes in brain structure could be an early sign that needs further monitoring.

"The most interesting thing is that only people who have been infected with the virus show a decrease in their thinking skills. But, all groups show brain aging physically," said Dr. TRUEline Becker, clinical neuropsychologist from Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

This study is in line with previous findings from the University of Washington, which revealed that the youth's brain also grew faster during the pandemic. In the study, boys experienced brain aging of about 1.4 years, while girls even reached 4.2 years.

Although the results of this study are quite worrying, experts cannot confirm whether these changes are permanent or can recover over time.

"We still don't know if this effect will last long or can return to normal," said Dr. Adam Brickman, professor of neuropsychology at Columbia University.

However, he added that there are simple steps that can be taken to maintain brain health, such as regular exercise, getting enough sleep, maintaining social relationships, and managing stress.

"The brain is like a muscle. The more often it is used and treated, the stronger it will be," he said.

The pandemic may have subsided, but the impact is still felt, including the brain. Feeling slow, difficult to focus, or tired quickly is not just feelings, but there could indeed be real changes in brain structure due to pressure during the pandemic. Therefore, it is important to start returning to a healthy lifestyle and pay attention to mental health, not just physical.

"The pandemic is changing the way of life and our brains are recording all that." Mohammadi-Nejad concluded.