COVID-19 Pandemic Could Accelerate Brain Aging, New Research Finds

A recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Nottingham suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic may have contributed to accelerated brain aging in the general population, regardless of whether individuals were infected with the virus. The research analyzed longitudinal brain scans from nearly 1,000 healthy adults as part of the UK Biobank study, some of which were taken before and after the pandemic, while others only before. Using advanced brain imaging techniques and machine learning, scientists estimated each participant's 'brain age'—a measure of how old their brain appears compared to their actual age.

The findings, published in Nature Communications, indicate that individuals who experienced the pandemic exhibited signs of faster brain aging over time, especially among older adults, men, and those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Interestingly, only those who contracted COVID-19 showed a decline in specific cognitive abilities, such as mental flexibility and processing speed. This implies that the general pandemic environment—including stress, social isolation, and global upheaval—may have impacted brain health even without direct infection. The researchers emphasize that these brain aging effects might be reversible.

Led by Dr. Ali-Reza Mohammadi-Nejad and supported by the NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Center and the MRC DEMISTIFI program, the study highlights how life's major stressors, like a global pandemic, can influence brain health. Dr. Mohammadi-Nejad noted that it's surprising to find significant brain aging in individuals who were not infected with COVID-19, pointing to the profound impact of pandemic-related stressors.

The study also utilized brain scans from over 15,000 healthy individuals to develop a precise model for estimating brain age. The researchers hope this work will serve as a reminder that overall environment and mental health factors significantly shape brain aging. While it remains uncertain whether these brain changes are temporary, the findings offer an optimistic outlook that reversal is possible, encouraging further research into protective strategies for brain health amid ongoing societal challenges.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-07-covid-pandemic-aged-brains.html