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Marilyn Walters, infected with the coronavirus, fought for her life while lying on a ventilator in the ICU. The woman has defeated COVID-19, but the disease has created a disturbing condition known as “brain fog”. Thousands of people recovering from SARS-CoV-2 infection struggle with it. What is “brain fog” and how does it manifest itself?
- COVID-19 is not “only” a threat to the respiratory system but also to the nervous system
- Some symptoms may go on for months. One of the more disturbing is the condition known as “brain fog”
- “Brain fog” is a non-medical term used to describe symptoms such as confusion, forgetfulness, inability to focus, and communication problems
- Scientists have not yet understood the exact causes of “brain fog”, but there are several theories
- For more up-to-date information on the coronavirus epidemic, visit the TvoiLokony home page
“Brain fog” in COVID-19 patients
Already in spring, scientists suspected that COVID-19 was not “only” a threat to the respiratory system, but also to the nervous system – the brain, spinal cord and nerves. Subsequent discoveries seem to confirm these fears. The largest US study of neurological symptoms in COVID-19 patients found that nearly one in three people enrolled in the study had an altered mental state.
Some symptoms may go on for months. One of the more worrisome is a condition called “brain fog” (a non-medical term). It was experienced by Marilyn Walters, 65, described by CNN. “Lord, restore my memory” – this prayer was repeated by the woman for months as she struggled to recover from COVID-19.
Mrs. Walters had sudden difficulties in arranging her thoughts, problems with concentration, the woman could not remember what had just happened. – Emotionally, it was difficult because I was always doing well. I was very nervous and shaky – describes CNN.
People who have had a severe course of COVID-19 are at risk of “brain fog”. And this applies not only to the older but also to the young adults (although the symptoms seen in seniors are more serious). What exactly is this condition?
Brain fog – what are the symptoms?
For many people, COVID-19 infection is either asymptomatic or mild (this term can include fever, dry cough, shortness of breath – anything that happens to the body until hospitalization). People who are “lightly” infected with the coronavirus usually feel better after two weeks. In more severe cases, this may take up to six weeks.
- COVID-19 has a “long tail”. What are the long-term effects of coronavirus infection?
A smaller (but increasing) proportion of patients are experiencing what is known as “long COVID-19”, some with symptoms lasting for months. One of the more worrying is just that “Brain fog” – A non-medical term used to describe symptoms such as confusion, forgetfulness, inability to concentrate and problems with communication.
«Brain fog» – how often does it attack?
It is difficult to determine how many people who have defeated COVID-19 experience “brain fog”. Igor Koralnik, head of the infectious disease division at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago, says there are thousands of them. As Michael Zandi, a consultant at the UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology in London, explained in The Guardian, the studies conducted so far indicate that the percentage of survivors of SARS-CoV-2 infection and with developing cognitive disorders is up to 20 percent.
Meanwhile, a French study of 120 hospitalized COVID-19 patients found that 34 percent. experienced memory loss, and 27 percent. had trouble concentrating months after recovery.
- Seven atypical symptoms of COVID-19 that we don’t take into account
Cognitive impairment and “brain fog” Michael Zandi observed most often in older patients suffering from more severe COVID-19. This was especially true of people who were hospitalized and / or using respirators. Neurologist Anna Nordvig also observed “brain fog” in younger patients.
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What causes COVID-19 brain fog?
Scientists have not yet understood the exact causes of “brain fog”, but there are several theories. One of the reasons may be the body’s immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection. “When inflammatory molecules are released, they can be toxic to the brain,” said Serena Spudich, a neurologist at the Yale School of Medicine. Another explanation, in her opinion, is that the body’s immune response causes the body to mistakenly attack nerve cells.
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Andrew Levine, a clinical professor and neuropsychologist at the University of California, Los Angeles, suspects that the symptoms of “brain fog” may be a form of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). Levine found that patients with SARS and MERS (the two previous coronaviruses) had an increased risk of PTSD, so he hypothesized that COVID-19 might act similarly.
Since “brain fog” is a relatively broad and imprecise term, some of its symptoms can also be explained by extreme fatigue, bad mood and stress – accompanying illness.
- How does the immune system work?
There is also no certain information on this point. There are people who have had COVID-19 who still report symptoms of “brain fog” even though it’s been months since the disease. Neuroscientists point out, however, that there is no evidence of permanent brain damage yet.
Prof. Wesley Ely of the Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville believes the recovery of these people will not be weeks, but months, even years. The scientist even estimates that a year after defeating COVID-19, at least half of the more severely ill elderly patients will not fully recover. – These patients will need intensive help in recovering – he emphasizes. In his opinion, after the patient leaves the hospital and returns home, these patients should be provided with rehabilitation services: physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and cognitive rehabilitation.
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