The COVID-19 pandemic had killed 2,814,899 people by April 1, 2021. However, this may only be the tip of the iceberg. That’s because World Health Organization predicts 10% of the world may have been infected. Harvard Health Publishing says 7% of U.S. survivors may have long-term neurological consequences. We explore these subtle, pervasive hidden long term memories of COVID-19 to see what we can learn.
How the Coronavirus Can Damage the Brain
The coronavirus can cause a viral infection called encephalitis, affecting thinking, movement, sight, and hearing. Strokes are another possibility, as is brain damage due to a lack of oxygen. John Hopkins University recently found blood clotting cells in the brains of deceased COVID patients, which should not have been there.
One third of survivors show profound cognitive impairment after intensive care treatment, according to Harvard Health Publishing. This is comparable to moderate traumatic brain injury. They may have difficulty managing medications, managing finances, comprehending written materials, and even carrying on conversations with family and friends.
More Subtle Hidden Long Term Memories of COVID-19
Brain damage can also occur among patients experiencing less severe illness. Science Direct reports attention loss in a study of twenty-nine recovered individuals. This affected their ability to attend to important information for as long as it remained relevant.
Harvard Health Publishing suspects this may be the result of underlying inflammation, silent strokes, or lack of oxygen that damaged their brains. Then they reach what they call an ‘inevitable conclusion’. This is, that hidden long term memories of COVID-19 infection ‘frequently include’ brain damage.
The large majority of patients recover, although this may take time. However, Springer Nature points out these consequences may combine to increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease in the future. They say we should therefore carefully assess people in leadership positions,after they recover from the disease.
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Harvard Health Publishing Report
John Hopkins University Research
