A severe COVID-19 infection can lead to cognitive impairment, as with age 20, between the ages of 50 and 70, a new study has found.
The findings, published in the journal Clinical Medicine, show that Loss Equals to losing about 10 IQ points.
The study analyzed 46 COVID-19 patients who received hospital care in a ward or intensive care unit for six to ten months. Of the total, 16 patients were placed on mechanical ventilation during their hospital stay.
After detailed computerized cognitive tests, the researchers were able to find that the patients showed slower and less accurate responses than would be expected for their age and demographic profile.
Patients who needed ventilators and organ support had worse scores.
By comparing patients with 66,008 members of the general public, the researchers estimate that the magnitude of cognitive impairment persists between the ages of 50 and 70, with an average age of 20 years, and is equivalent to losing 10. Wisdom Points.
Survivors scored particularly poorly on tasks such as verbal conformal reasoning, a finding that supports a commonly reported problem of difficulty finding words.
They also showed slower processing speed, which aligns with previous observations, of decreased brain glucose consumption within the frontal network of the brain, responsible for attention, complex problem-solving and working memory, among other functions.
Although it is well established that people who have recovered from severe COVID-19 illness may have a broad spectrum of symptoms of poor mental health, the team found that severe illness may help predict cognitive deficits. The severity was better.
Patients’ scores and reaction times began to improve over time, but the researchers noted that any recovery in cognitive faculties was at best gradual and likely to be influenced by a number of factors, including the severity of the disease and its neurological or psychological effects.
The study adds to a growing body of research that suggests that people who have recovered from COVID-19, including those with mild symptoms, may struggle with cognitive tasks such as problem-solving and finding words. May have difficulty or possibly suffer “brain fog”.