COVID-19 pandemic accelerates brain aging by 5.5 months, study finds.

A new study in Nature Communications reveals that the COVID-19 pandemic has sped up brain aging by about 5.5 months, even in those who didn't contract the virus. Researchers from the University of Nottingham analyzed brain scans from nearly 1,000 people and found that stress, social isolation, and disruptions in daily life likely contributed to this accelerated aging. The effect was more pronounced in older individuals, men, and those from disadvantaged backgrounds.