In a new study from DePaul University, researchers found as people with long-haul COVID-19 continue to recover from their illness, brain and cognitive symptoms may persist or even worsen over time.
The symptoms hanging on most for COVID-19 long-haulers are sometimes referred to as ‘brain fog.’ People have trouble problem solving, or they get in the car and forget where they’re supposed to be going.
Researchers defined long-haul COVID-19 as having serious, prolonged symptoms three months after contracting the SARS CoV-2 virus.
In the study, the team surveyed 278 long-haul COVID-19 patients about their symptoms at two points, six months apart.
They also surveyed 502 patients with chronic fatigue syndrome about their symptoms, which have significant overlap with COVID-19.
The team found at the six-month mark, COVID-19 long-haulers report worse brain symptoms, including trouble forming words, difficulty focusing and absent-mindedness. Still, these symptoms were ranked less severe than those with chronic fatigue syndrome.
Most other symptoms, including sleep problems, immune-related issues, pain and gastrointestinal issues, seem to improve over time for COVID-19 long-haulers.
The most severe symptom for COVID-19 long-haulers was post-exertional malaise, which includes feeling physically and mentally drained or heavy.
The team says COVID-19 long-haulers have a single virus to point to as the initial cause of their symptoms.
They estimate about 10% of people who have COVID-19 become long-haulers. In reviewing the literature, the researchers found that past epidemics, including the 1918 pandemic, have also led to many patients having long-term fatigue.
If you care about COVID-19, please read studies about this brain disease can be first symptom of COVID-19 in many people and findings of these 2 common health problems may increase risk of COVID-19 brain damage.
For more information about COVID-19 and your health, please see recent studies about the new details of brain damage caused by COVID-19 and results showing the cause of ‘brain fog’ in people with COVID-19.
The study is published in Fatigue: Biomedicine, Health & Behavior. One author of the study is psychologist Leonard A. Jason.
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