Normal hospital-type MRI scanners can't see inside the brain with the kind of chemical and physical detail we need. But with 7T (7 Tesla) scanners, we can now measure these details

Not the best article, but I think what they are trying to say over multiple paragraphs is that new higher resolution MRI machines can see the damage that normal lower resolution MRI can't see

[–] Varyk@sh.itjust.works 6 points 1 year ago (2 children)

what type of abnormalities are they seeing specifically?

[–] nickwitha_k@lemmy.sdf.org 32 points 1 year ago (1 children)

FTA: Signs of ongoing inflammation in the brainstem, something that is seen in people with traumatic brain injury and people with chronic fatigue syndrome.

[–] Varyk@sh.itjust.works 8 points 1 year ago (1 children)

oh, interesting.

so this new study is saying they can see on a small enough scale to find that scientifically consistent and significant inflammation in the brainstem directly linked to covid?

[–] nickwitha_k@lemmy.sdf.org 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Precisely. They had previously been unable to see this in living patients due to limitations of typical MRI machines but had found signs in the deceased. The major change is that, using a more powerful (7 Tesla) MRI machine, they were able to see these same symptoms in living patients for the first time.

[–] Varyk@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

okay, got it. thanks.

that is a heck of a development, I now understand the cause for the hullabaloo.

[–] nickwitha_k@lemmy.sdf.org 2 points 1 year ago

You're very welcome! Glad that I could help.