Long Covid Could Alter Cognitive Functions of the Brain

The Covid-19 virus and its variants have been spreading worldwide for a while, and many of those that got infected have been suffering from different cognitive dysfunctions. A new study analyzed the cognitive-related effects of the Covid-19 infection in different patients.

Some of them did not require hospitalization but received medical care, while others were admitted to the ED or other hospital settings. The post-Covid-19 condition of each patient is different, but long-term covid is a reality of those who got infected. 

 

What is long-term covid?

 

Before reporting the findings of the above-mentioned study, it is essential to understand what long-term covid is. According to the WHO, patients who recovered from the SARS-CoV-2 virus but are still experiencing symptoms have what is known as long-term covid. Some of the most common symptoms of long-term covid are shortness of breath, cognitive dysfunction, known as brain fog, fatigue, muscle aches, loss of smell and taste, chest pain. WHO health experts mention that over 200 symptoms connected to long-term covid have been reported. 

 

How does long term covid affect the cognitive functions of the brain?

 

The medical study published in the JAMA Network mentions that those who got the viral infection have experienced brain fog, a cognitive dysfunction that includes memory loss and other symptoms. A researcher of the study, David Putrino, Director of rehabilitation Innovation at Mount Sinai Hospital from New York, declared for a media outlet that many of the patients suffering from long-term covid reported that their abilities to make plans, finish daily activities, and remember information have been affected by the Covid-19 virus. 

 

Almost half of the survey participants mentioned that they were unable to go back to their full-time jobs after going through the viral infection, and two-thirds of them experienced brain fog. Unfortunately, this means that many of those who suffer from long term covid need long-term medical care and that the road to recovery is difficult and longer than expected.