Impacts of COVID-19: Why it made us older even if we hadn't gotten infected

A recent British study, published in Nature Communications and cited by DW, warns that the COVID-19 pandemic left traces on the brains of the world's population beyond the infection itself.

According to researchers at the University of Nottingham , isolation, stress, and disruption to daily life may have accelerated brain aging by an average of 5.5 months, even in people who never contracted the virus.

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The analysis included nearly 1,000 adults who underwent MRIs before and after the start of the pandemic. Using artificial intelligence models trained on data from more than 15,000 healthy brains , the scientists compared structural changes and found clear patterns of accelerated aging.

The effects were most noticeable in men, older people, and those living in disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds . For the report's authors, the explanation lies not in direct damage from the virus, but in indirect factors: social isolation, economic uncertainty, reduced physical activity, and prolonged exposure to high levels of stress .

Limited but existing damage

During the course of the research, this brain aging did not translate into a measurable decline in cognitive function among those who were not infected. However, people who did suffer from COVID-19 showed small reductions in processing speed and mental flexibility .

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This nuance is key: the brain can show structural changes without implying an immediate functional deficit, but these changes could increase vulnerability to future problems.

The study highlights a silent consequence of the pandemic: the impact of global crises on neurological health . Beyond strengthening healthcare systems against emerging viruses, the authors suggest that it is also necessary to design strategies to mitigate the effects of isolation, prolonged stress, and social uncertainty. The evidence makes it clear that brain health depends not only on avoiding infection, but also on protecting emotional and social well-being in times of crisis.

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