A preliminary study from Imperial College London reveals that SARS-CoV-2, the virus behind COVID-19, may significantly impair brain function in infected individuals—potentially equivalent to 10 years of cognitive aging. However, experts urge caution as results await peer review.
While SARS-CoV-2 is known for causing lasting lung issues, even in mild cases, new research highlights potential neurological effects. Published as a preprint on medRxiv on October 21, 2020, this Imperial College London study analyzed cognitive performance in 84,285 participants, some confirmed with COVID-19 and others suspected.
The assessments, typically used for Alzheimer's patients, measured problem-solving, emotional regulation, and attention. Results showed infected individuals performed worse than uninfected controls, with those experiencing severe COVID-19 showing the greatest deficits—equivalent to about 10 years of brain aging across ages 20 to 70.
These insights deepen our understanding of COVID-19's broad impacts but come with limitations. As a preprint, the study hasn't undergone peer review yet, though that's expected soon.
Tests were conducted post-infection, lacking pre-illness baselines, so causation isn't definitively proven. Additionally, it remains unclear if these cognitive changes are temporary or permanent.
