Covid-19 doesn’t only target the lungs, this infection can also target nearly every organ in the body. Recent research shows that many people who recover from Covid-19 infection perform worse on IQ-style tests. Is this drop in cognitive function a part of long Covid-19 infection?

Some Covid-19 Survivors Report Brain Fog

A UK study documented Covid-19 infection’s adverse effects on human cognition. As reported by WebMD, 81,337 people completed intelligence tests, including 13,000 who had recovered from Covid-19 infection. Survivors showed difficulties with tasks involving reasoning, problem-solving, and spatial planning.

A paper in The Lancet linked these problems to long Covid-19 infection, in which patients have lingering brain fog marked by poor concentration and slowed thinking. In the same testing, survivors who required ventilators had an average 7-point decline in IQ. Experts suspect that the more severe the initial illness, the greater the impact on thinking afterward.

How Can Covid-19 Impact the Brain?

Scientists are still examining how Covid-19 might affect intelligence. Several provisional explanations for reduced brain function in survivors include:

1. Severe infection

One pathway may be direct involvement of the central nervous system, with the virus provoking acute infection in nerve-related tissues. Case reports from China, Japan, and Florida have found Covid-19 genetic material in spinal fluid. This may help explain neurological signs such as loss of smell.

2. Overwhelmed immune system

Another possibility is an excessive immune response during infection. A large inflammatory surge can damage tissues and organs. In some situations, this immune-driven injury may be more harmful than the virus itself.

3. Physical changes during infection

It is hypothesized that decreased cognitive function in Covid-19 patients are associated with the symptoms of stressors in the body. High fever, low blood oxygen, and organ strain are also implicated. These physiologic changes raise the risk of brain injury. In severe Covid-19, they can lead to delirium or even coma.

4. Blood clots

Decreased cognitive function in Covid-19 patients is also associated with increased blood clot formation. When the viral levels in the body are high, the risks of blood clot formations appear to increase. If the blood clots block the blood vessels supplying the brain, stroke and lasting brain damage can occur.

For Covid-19 survivors who notice problems with movement, sensation, or thinking, prompt medical care is recommended. The earlier treatment starts, the more likely further harm can be limited.

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