Brain scans have uncovered possible evidence that long COVID might harm specific nerve cells in the brain that release dopamine, a chemical crucial for controlling motivation, movement, and memory. This discovery, published in the journal eBioMedicine, was led by researchers at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) in Toronto. The study suggests that long COVID could be linked to damage in dopamine-releasing neurons, which might explain why some people continue to experience symptoms like fatigue, lack of motivation, slowed movement, and memory issues long after their initial infection. To investigate this, the researchers used a type of brain imaging called positron emission tomography (PET), which allows scientists to see the activity and health of specific brain structures. They looked at a marker that indicates the health of dopamine-releasing neurons in people with long COVID and compared these results with those from healthy individuals. The study found significantly lower levels of this marker in people with long COVID across key areas of the striatum, a region of the brain involved in regulating movement, motivation, and thinking. The reduced levels of the marker suggest a lower density of dopamine nerve endings, which could impair the brain’s ability to function normally. The researchers also observed different patterns of marker loss that were linked to specific symptoms. For example, lower levels in the ventral striatum were associated with a greater loss of motivation, while reductions in another area called the dorsal putamen were connected to slower movement. Lower levels in the caudate putamen were linked to memory problems. These findings align with earlier research from the same team, which found that people with long COVID have higher levels of brain inflammation in regions rich in dopamine-releasing neurons. Building on these results, the researchers plan to launch a clinical trial in the coming months to explore whether targeting dopamine function in people with long COVID can improve symptoms like memory, motivation, and fatigue. The study was supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), highlighting the importance of understanding and addressing the long-term effects of the virus.