The changes in the brain seen between the ages of 50 and 70 were seen in the span of severe illness from the virus. The scientists, reflecting on a comparison of patient results to 66,008 members of the general public, defined this cognitive impact as 20 years of ageing. Professor David Menon from the Division of Anaesthesia at the University of Cambridge, the study’s senior author, said: “Cognitive impairment is common to a wide range of neurological disorders, including dementia, and even routine ageing, but the patterns we saw – the cognitive ‘fingerprint’ of COVID-19 – was distinct from all of these.” The data revealed that COVID-19 survivors were less accurate and had slower response times than the control population, which continued even six months later.įor people who needed mechanical ventilation during their severe COVID, their cognitive ability was most changed. Scales measuring anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder were also assessed. This test measured different aspects of mental faculties – such as memory, attention and reasoning. To test the impact of the virus on their brains, the survivors underwent detailed, computerised cognitive tests. Severe COVID-19 survivors experience brain fog similar to 20 years of ageing The findings, published in the journal eClinicalMedicine, suggest that effects of severe COVID are still present six months after acute illness. We urgently need to look at what can be done to help these people.” This means there is a large number of people out there still experiencing problems with cognition many months later. Professor Adam Hampshire from the Department of Brain Sciences at Imperial College London, the study’s first author, said: “Around 40,000 people have been through intensive care with COVID-19 in England alone and many more will have been very sick, but not admitted to hospital. Every piece of the puzzle will help to create treatment in the future. This study looked at severe COVID survivors, to try and figure out why the brain is so impacted by the virus. Out of this group, 16 people were placed on mechanical ventilation during their time in hospital. © Monkey Business Images Data finds severe illness creates COVID brain fog, even six months after infectionĪ collaboration of scientists from Imperial College London and The University of Cambridge looked at 46 patients admitted to Addenbrooke’s Hospital, part of Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, from March to July in 2020. A different study conducted across 154,000 people found that COVID patients were 80% more likely to have brain fog than non-patients.Ĭognitive symptoms impact the majority of people when they are infected, but have been found to continue in some people, long after their initial period of infection.

One UK study found that one in seven individuals had cognitive difficulties, 12 weeks after a positive COVID test. When it comes to survivors of severe or even moderate illness, COVID brain fog is one of the most common symptoms alongside breathlessness and sleep disturbances.

The body of evidence on the virus and lasting cognitive problems continues to grow. Long-term neurological problems from COVID still being discoveredĪ US study even found that symptomatic Long COVID was more likely in women. Individuals with existing comorbidities, working in high-contact jobs or compromised immune systems, face the likelihood of severe symptoms if infected. In richer, Global North countries, the virus continues to decimate the most vulnerable people. Across the world, the struggle against the pandemic continues – especially in countries which are unable to get fully vaccinated. COVID brain fog is one of the most common symptoms, for those with Long COVID, people in the temporary stage of infection and now, following severe, hospitalised cases. The exact, long-term neurological effects of COVID are still being studied in survivors. © Puwadol Jaturawutthichai Scientists find that persistent cognitive symptoms of the virus, known as COVID brain fog, can be equivalent to 20 years of ageing or losing 10 IQ points

Covid vaccine brain fog side effect