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COVID-19 Pandemic Ages Brains by 5.5 Months: Study

7/30/2025

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Summary

Story summary

The University of Nottingham's groundbreaking study uncovers a startling truth: the COVID-19 pandemic has aged our brains by an average of 5.5 months, even among the uninfected. Analyzing MRI scans from nearly 1,000 participants, researchers found this effect was especially pronounced in older adults and marginalized communities, underscoring the pandemic's deep scars on mental health and cognitive abilities.

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Story summary

The University of Nottingham's groundbreaking study uncovers a startling truth: the COVID-19 pandemic has aged our brains by an average of 5.5 months, even among the uninfected. Analyzing MRI scans from nearly 1,000 participants, researchers found this effect was especially pronounced in older adults and marginalized communities, underscoring the pandemic's deep scars on mental health and cognitive abilities.