Memory loss and attention deficit are common complaints among people who have survived severe COVID-19.
However, these cognitive impairments have also been observed in individuals with mild cases more than 18 months after their initial infection, according to a study by researchers at the University of São Paulo (USP) in Brazil.
The study, published in the journal BMC Psychology, highlights the enduring cognitive impacts of long COVID and emphasizes the need for comprehensive rehabilitation programs to address these issues.
Researchers collected data from 302 volunteers and found that cognitive impairment affected 11.7% of mild cases, 39.2% of moderate cases, and 48.9% of severe cases.
Antônio de Pádua Serafim, the study’s first author and a professor at the Institute of Psychology (IP-USP), explained that while cognitive impairments like memory loss and attention deficits increased with the severity of the disease, even mild cases showed significant effects.
Approximately 100 participants with mild or moderate COVID-19 exhibited these cognitive issues.
The study’s findings suggest that neuroinflammation caused by the SARS-CoV-2 infection could be responsible for these cognitive problems. Serafim noted that memory loss and attention deficits are typically associated with post-intensive care syndrome due to intubation under deep anesthesia.
However, some patients who neither required intensive care nor had severe symptoms still experienced these cognitive impairments, highlighting the potential impact of neuroinflammation due to COVID-19.
Memory and attention are crucial cognitive functions that affect daily life. Participants with poor scores on memory and attention tests reported difficulties such as forgetting words, leaving pots on the stove, or failing to pick up children from school.
Attention, being the primary function in all mental activities, plays a significant role in daily life. Impaired attention can disrupt memory and decision-making processes.
Serafim pointed out that SARS-CoV-2 affects the central nervous system, as well as the lungs, kidneys, heart, and muscles, but the full extent of the damage is not yet understood.
Researchers do not know if cognitive impairments due to COVID-19 are permanent and are exploring ways to mitigate these effects.
In collaboration with other USP researchers, Serafim is developing programs to address cognitive losses caused by COVID-19. These programs include techniques like neurostimulation and neurofeedback, which aim to improve brain functions by stimulating neural connections.
While only case studies are available so far, there are promising signs. For instance, a physician who spent 34 days in intensive care showed significant recovery after undergoing a neurofeedback protocol commonly used for attention deficit disorder.
Serafim believes that brain training and cognitive stimulation could enhance neural connectivity and overall cognitive ability. Although the severe phase of the pandemic is over, the cognitive sequelae persist, indicating that the issue is far from resolved.
Many individuals were infected, and many suffer from cognitive impairments, yet there is no effective intervention program to address both the emotional and cognitive difficulties resulting from COVID-19.
This study underscores the importance of developing and implementing comprehensive rehabilitation strategies to help those affected by long COVID-19 regain their cognitive functions and improve their quality of life.
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The research findings can be found in BMC Psychology.
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