My comment : this study is high quality af
Abstract
Background
Cognitive impairment can be caused by infections with various pathogens, including SARS-CoV-2. Research has yet to determine the true incidence and course of cognitive impairment in older adults following COVID-19. Furthermore, research has theorised that COVID-19 is associated with dementia progression and diagnosis but this association has yet to be fully described.
Methods
A systematic review was registered in Prospero and conducted on the databases PubMed, Embase, Ovid, CENTRAL and Cochrane Library. Studies reporting cognitive impairment and dementia outcomes in post-acute and post-COVID-19 patients aged ≥65 years, and which included control data, were included in this review.
Results
15,124 articles were identified by the search strategy. After eliminating duplicate titles and completing title, abstracts and full-text review, 18 studies were included comprising of 412,957 patients with COVID-19 (46.63 % male) and 411,929 patients without COVID-19 (46.59 % male). The overall mean Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score in COVID-19 patients was 23.34 out of 30 (95 % CI [22.24, 24.43]). indicating cognitive impairment. The overall proportion of patients identified as having new onset cognitive impairment was 65 % (95 % CI [44,81]). Subgroup analyses indicated that time since infection significantly improves overall MoCA score and reduces proportion of patients with cognitive impairment.
Conclusion
This study indicates that cognitive impairment may be an important sequela of COVID-19. Further research with adequate sample sizes is warranted regarding COVID-19’s association with new-onset dementia and dementia progression, and the effect of repeat infections. There is a need for development of diagnostic and management protocols for COVID-19 patients with cognitive impairment.
Is there any way to reverse this? My girlfriend strongly suspects she has mild brain damage since she was infected with what was probably covid19 sometime before it became known, and it impacts her daily life somewhat. Is there any point in going to a neurologist? Thanks
I mean, if they think they have brain damage, yeah definitely see someone.
Not a doctor, grain of salt, etc, just a guy that's into cognition and behavioral training. But one of the tests they've been using to test for cognition issues has been the Go/NoGo test which is for testing both response times and impulse control. So, I would start doing meditations or therapies that would help with that. For memory issues, increasing structure in their daily life with more specific routines and habits are probably the way to go. Perhaps learning how to do (and consistently practicing!) memory palaces.
If y'all are feeling really adventurous, to combine meditation and structure, y'all might want to look into Magick. Underneath the woo, it's essentially using ritual and rhythm to build memory palaces with the intent of goal setting. Just throwing that out there. Rhythm, repetition, and pavlovian association are like the building block of memory and behavior. So once you learn to see how those things interact in storytelling and religion it's much easier to take a secular approach to it. The placebo effect often works even if you know you're faking it.
Nicotine may help. I can't stress enough that the research is very new, possibly wrong, and might bring more problems that it solves. I'm so sorry for your situation, comrade.
Is there any point in going to a neurologist?
If you have the means, I'd suggest it. I gotta say, my partner has gone 10+ times and they've only managed some symptoms. But the effect hasn't been a full change.
I also realise that you might be in a situation where neurologists are super expensive or very hard to access. I'm very pro "go see a doctor" but the positiveness may not necessarily outweight what negatives you all are facing by going. But if it's doable, give it a try.
Hilarious if my nicotine addiction is the reason I haven't had any COVID issues despite my general lack of self care.
I was getting blazed everyday during the pandemic while working in covid response, I am attributing my relatively good health to the weed in my lungs forming a protective barrier around them and stopping the covid
not to advocate for smoking personally, I use a dry herb vape and make edibles recently.
Time to replace those pictures of lung cancer on the packaging with pictures of the galaxy brain meme
I've been meaning to make a post about it, metformin may help. It's primarily useful to preventing long COVID, but some people with long COVID have found that it has helped their recovery, too.
I've been think we may need to make a post just to collect all the stuff we've run across that may help. Since a lot of us don't have healthcare and are just kinda shooting in the dark anyway.
I think this is a great idea. Maybe an evolving Sticky post, and people can comment with links to research supporting the medications, supplements, behavior change, etc?
Sounds good. @ButtBidet@hexbear.net, thoughts, as a mod? Wanna start it off with a pinned post?
A Reddit link was detected in your comment. Here are links to the same location on alternative frontends that protect your privacy.
I have a lot of experience with neurologists and I would suggest she book the appointment soon, because she's going to have to wait a few more months before she finally sees the doctor.
Other stuff worth looking into. I would have mentioned them earlier but they were both stored in my brain as heart related.
https://hexbear.net/comment/5425089
The conspiracy brainworm in me wants to believe that this was part of some long term Burgerland plan to push widespread acceptance of culling of socially undesirable peoples, because facing the reality that the people in charge either never took this outcome into account or just didn't care that they were obliterating what's currently left of elder care institutions is almost unthinkable.
We are just straight up not prepared what this is going to do to the future 65+ demographics. It terrifies me every day
Oh we are prepared, prepared to leave ‘em in a ditch just like we did at the start of the pandemic.
My brain feels utterly fucked after COVID so not surprised to read this at all. Just a lil concerned
