The impact of COVID and post-COVID symptoms on the cognitive health is well recognised. A new study of 141,583 adults in England has shed light on measurable global
cognitive deficits
and impairments in the participants "especially in those who reported recent poor memory or difficulty thinking or concentrating (“brain fog”)."
The study has been published in The New England Journal of Medicine (NJEM).
"Poor memory and difficulty thinking or concentrating (commonly referred to as “brain fog”) have been implicated in syndromes occurring after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) — a situation that has led to suggestions that
Covid-19
may have lasting cognitive consequences.1-7 However, objective data on cognitive performance are largely lacking, and how long such deficits may persist and which cognitive functions are most vulnerable are unclear," the researchers have said.
For the study, the participants undertook eight computerized online tasks from the Cognitron battery in a fixed order on their personal devices (e.g., desktop or laptop computer, tablet, or smartphone), which consisted of immediate memory, two-dimensional mental manipulation, spatial working memory, spatial planning, verbal analogical reasoning, word definitions, information sampling, and delayed memory.
The outcome of the study
Multiple findings indicated that the association between COVID-19 and cognitive deficits attenuated as the pandemic progressed. We found smaller cognitive deficits among participants who had been infected during recent variant periods than among those who had been infected with the original virus or the alpha variant, the researchers have said.
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"We also found a small cognitive advantage among participants who had received two or more vaccinations and a minimal effect of repeat episodes of COVID-19," they added.
Long COVID and brain fog
Long Covid refers to persistent symptoms experienced by some individuals after recovering from the acute phase of Covid-19. One common symptom is
brain fog
, a cognitive impairment characterized by difficulty concentrating,
memory problems
, and mental clarity issues. This cognitive dysfunction can significantly impact daily functioning and quality of life. Research suggests that brain fog in long Covid may result from a combination of factors, including inflammation, immune dysregulation, and neurological changes triggered by the initial viral infection. Management strategies for brain fog in long Covid often involve a multidisciplinary approach, including rest, cognitive rehabilitation, mental health support, and addressing underlying medical conditions. However, the exact mechanisms underlying brain fog in long Covid and the most effective treatment approaches are still being investigated, highlighting the need for ongoing research to better understand and support individuals experiencing this challenging symptom.
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