LONDON: A recent study conducted by Imperial College London reveals the lasting cognitive difficulties experienced by people who have recovered from COVID-19, even after the resolution of initial symptoms.
Published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the research highlights understated yet enduring cognitive impairments affecting memory and thinking abilities among COVID-19 survivors.
The study indicates that persons who faced hospitalization, endured long-term symptoms, or were infected with previous virus strains experienced exacerbated cognitive difficulties. Even those whose symptoms had improved before the cognitive assessment displayed lingering minor impairments.
Cognitive and Memory Challenges in COVID-19 Survivors
Worryingly, persons with a history of long-term COVID, hospitalization, or exposure to early virus variants may continue to grapple with memory and cognitive challenges a year post-contracting COVID-19.
The study, conducted on a substantial cohort of more than 140,000 COVID-19 survivors as part of the REACT Long COVID study led by Imperial College, utilized the Cognition online platform for cognitive assessments. These tests revealed specific impairments in memory, particularly in picture recall, as well as difficulties in tasks involving planning, logical reasoning, puzzle-solving, and idea explanation.
Researchers accounted for variables like age and underlying health conditions, providing valuable insights into the cognitive repercussions associated with the virus. The findings suggest that even individuals with mild cases of COVID-19 may experience lasting impacts on thinking and memory.
