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Updated: Jun 28, 2026
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Abbiategrasso Brain Bank Protocol for Collecting, Processing and Characterizing Aging Brains
Published on: June 3, 2020
Genetic evidence that advanced COVID-19 accelerates longitudinal brain atrophy: A Mendelian randomization study
Jie Wen1,2,3, Yuyao Chen4, Jingwei Zhang1,2,3
1Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
Medicine
|June 27, 2026
Summary
Advanced COVID-19 hospitalization and severity are genetically linked to accelerated brain aging and brain volume atrophy. This highlights the importance of monitoring brain health in long COVID-19 patients.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Genetics
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Long-term neurological sequelae are reported in Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) survivors.
- The causal link between COVID-19 and brain aging remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential causal relationship between COVID-19 and longitudinal brain structural changes.
- To identify shared genetic factors and mediating mechanisms underlying COVID-19 and brain aging.
Main Methods:
- Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) data for COVID-19 phenotypes and brain structure changes were utilized.
- Two-sample and two-step Mendelian randomization analyses were performed.
- Multi-trait GWAS meta-analysis, colocalization, fine-mapping, and multi-omics analyses were conducted.
Main Results:
- COVID-19 hospitalization and severity showed a genetic association with reduced total brain volume over time.
- Shared genetic variants were identified between severe COVID-19 and global brain aging.
- A specific variant (rs117169628) colocalized between severe COVID-19 and brain aging, impacting CDH15 expression.
Conclusions:
- Advanced COVID-19 may be genetically associated with accelerated brain aging.
- Specific COVID-19 phenotypes are linked to changes in brain structure.
- Brain health monitoring is crucial for individuals experiencing long COVID-19.
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