Pandemic Stress May Have Aged Our Brains

Living through the COVID-19 pandemic may have aged our brains faster—even without infection.

According to a new study published in Nature Communications, researchers at the University of Nottingham found measurable signs of accelerated brain aging among healthy adults who experienced the pandemic, regardless of whether they had COVID-19.

Using MRI scans from nearly 1,000 participants in the UK Biobank, the researchers compared brain images taken before and after the pandemic with those from a control group scanned entirely before it. Even in participants who had never tested positive for the virus, the scans revealed brain aging that outpaced what would normally be expected.

Pandemic Exposure, Not Just Infection, Alters Brain Health

The team developed a machine learning model trained on brain scans from over 15,000 healthy individuals to estimate “brain age.” They found that:

• Brain aging was accelerated by an average of 5.5 months in people scanned after the pandemic began.
• The effect was most pronounced in older adults, men, and those from socioeconomically deprived backgrounds.
• Only people who had COVID-19 showed a corresponding decline in cognitive performance.
• The observed brain aging may be reversible with time and improved conditions.

Dr. Ali-Reza Mohammadi-Nejad, lead author, noted, “What surprised me most was that even people who hadn’t had Covid showed significant increases in brain ageing rates.”

Stress, Inequality, and the Hidden Costs of a Crisis

Senior author Professor Dorothee Auer emphasized that the findings highlight the influence of everyday experience on brain health: “The pandemic put a strain on people’s lives, especially those already facing disadvantage.”

The acceleration of brain aging was not linked to direct viral damage in most cases but appeared tied to psychological and social stressors—like isolation, anxiety, and disrupted routines. This effect was especially evident in individuals from low-income or low-education backgrounds, who experienced brain aging rates up to six months faster than their more advantaged peers.

Cognitive Effects Limited to Those Infected

Although the pandemic itself seemed to speed up brain aging in structural terms, only individuals who had contracted COVID-19 showed measurable declines in cognitive function. They performed worse on tests of mental flexibility and processing speed, such as the trail making test.

Why This Matters

This research suggests that large-scale disruptions like pandemics can affect the brain even in the absence of infection, with potential long-term health implications. However, the authors emphasize that these effects might be reversible—and that addressing social and health inequalities could help protect brain health in future crises.

Journal: Nature Communications
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-61033-4