Researchers from the University of Cambridge have delved into the mechanisms driving long COVID symptoms, focusing on potential cognitive impairments post-infection.
Long COVID refers to lingering coronavirus symptoms affecting 5-15% of patients. Common issues include mental fog, fatigue, breathlessness, concentration difficulties, joint or chest pain, and headaches. A French hospital study in December 2020 pointed to factors like pandemic-related stress, persistent inflammation, or the virus itself.
Building on this, a study published in eClinicalMedicine on April 28, 2022, led by University of Cambridge experts, examined cognitive effects. Between March and July 2020—six months into the pandemic—they tested 46 COVID patients and compared results to 66,000 from the UK population.
Using verbal analogical reasoning tests—which evaluate idea relationships and methodical thinking—hospitalized patients scored lower and processed information more slowly. Alarmingly, they could lose up to 10 IQ points, a decline typically seen naturally between ages 50 and 70.
Possible causes include severe infection reducing brain blood flow via blocked vessels, micro-bleeds, or overactive immunity. Brain regions for attention, problem-solving, and memory also use glucose less efficiently.
The findings confirm persistent cognitive deficits in many, yet researchers noted gradual improvements in some, suggesting reversibility.
