Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42059960›Full record

ArticleJournal of neurology2026

Association between post-COVID-19 neuropsychiatric symptoms and persistent glial activation in the limbic system: a TSPO PET study.

Joel Tuomaala, Maija Saraste, Emma Smith, Matilda Kuusi, Elisabet Westerberg, Eveliina Honkonen, Rahim Kargar, Sini Laaksonen, Jussi Lehto, Amelie Luoma and 11 more

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Article in Journal of neurology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

21 authors.

Joel Tuomaala *Turku PET Centre, Turku University Hospital, University of Turku, and Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland.
Maija Saraste *Turku PET Centre, Turku University Hospital, University of Turku, and Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland.
Emma Smith *Clinical Neurosciences, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
Matilda KuusiTurku PET Centre, Turku University Hospital, University of Turku, and Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland.
Elisabet WesterbergÅland Central Hospital, Mariehamn, Åland, Finland.
Eveliina HonkonenTurku PET Centre, Turku University Hospital, University of Turku, and Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland.
Rahim KargarTurku University Hospital, Neurocenter, Turku, Finland.
Sini LaaksonenTurku PET Centre, Turku University Hospital, University of Turku, and Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland.
Jussi LehtoTurku PET Centre, Turku University Hospital, University of Turku, and Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland.
Amelie LuomaTurku PET Centre, Turku University Hospital, University of Turku, and Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland.
Markus MatilainenTurku PET Centre, Turku University Hospital, University of Turku, and Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland.
Olavi MisinTurku PET Centre, Turku University Hospital, University of Turku, and Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland.
Janne AtosuoDepartment of Biotechnology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
Mari KanervaDepartment of Hospital Hygiene and Infection Control, TYKS Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.
Helena LiiraOutpatient Clinic for Long-Term Effects of COVID-19, Helsinki University Central Hospital, and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
Sini LaaksoOutpatient Clinic for Long-Term Effects of COVID-19, Helsinki University Central Hospital, and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
Tatiana PosharinaOutpatient Clinic for Long-Term Effects of COVID-19, Helsinki University Central Hospital, and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
Virva SaunavaaraTurku PET Centre, Turku University Hospital, University of Turku, and Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland.
Saara WahlroosRadiopharmaceutical Chemistry Laboratory, Turku PET Centre, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
Johan RajanderAccelerator Laboratory, Åbo Akademi University, Turku PET Centre, Turku, Finland.
Laura AirasTurku PET Centre, Turku University Hospital, University of Turku, and Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland. laura.airas@utu.fi.

Funding

Academy of Finland 330902Academy of Finland 337530Academy of Finland 357910Academy of Finland 358823Academy of Finland 374291HORIZON EUROPE Health 101057553
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundA subset of individuals experience prolonged neurological and psychiatric symptoms following SARS-CoV-2 infection, a condition referred to as long COVID (LC). Limited evidence implicates ongoing neuroinflammatory processes as a driver of LC. This study investigates neuroinflammation in LC using translocator protein positron emission tomography (TSPO PET).

methods14 LC, 11 healthy control (HC) and 13 multiple sclerosis (MS) participants were included in the study. They underwent [

resultsTSPO availability, measured as distribution volume ratio (DVR), was not elevated in LC compared to HCs but was significantly lower in LC compared to MS (WM DVR 1.03 vs. 1.06; p = 0.007). Individuals imaged within 16 months of SARS-CoV-2 infection showed higher WM DVR compared to those with a longer disease duration (1.05 vs. 1.02; p = 0.04). Moreover, lower quality of life was associated with higher DVRs in the hippocampus, amygdala and thalamus (ρ = - 0.83- - 0.70), and depression and anxiety correlated positively with DVRs in the hippocampus and amygdala (ρ = 0.75-0.97).

conclusionsLC TSPO availability did not differ from HCs in any studied brain area. However, lower WM TSPO availability in individuals with longer LC duration suggests COVID-19-associated neuroinflammation may subside with time, while the association between limbic TSPO availability and LC severity may imply a role for limbic activity in LC symptomology.

Indexed as

COVID-19Limbic SystemNeurogliaNeuroinflammatory DiseasesReceptors, GABAAdultFemaleHumansMagnetic Resonance ImagingMaleMiddle AgedMultiple SclerosisPositron-Emission TomographyPost-Acute COVID-19 SyndromeReceptors, GABATSPO protein, human[11C]PK11195Glial activationLimbic systemLong COVIDNeuropsychiatric symptomsTSPO PET

Identifiers

PMID42059960
PMCPMC13132884

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.