Post by Nadica (She/Her) on Oct 22, 2024 3:19:49 GMT
COVID survivors may develop dementia - Published Oct 21, 2024
They are also at higher risk of depression, anxiety and insomnia
COVID-19 survivors show signs of significant cognitive deficits which could become dementia even a year after having the virus 1 . They also have an increased risk of depression, anxiety and disrupted sleep.
People who have had COVID-19 should be subjected to close monitoring and regular check-ups to ensure early detection of cognitive impairment and timely therapeutic interventions, says a team of researchers at the Bangur Institute of Neurosciences in Kolkata.
Previous research has suggested that the coronavirus may enter the brain through the olfactory system but little is known about how the virus affects the brain.
To find out, the scientists, led by Atanu Biswas and Madhushree Chakrabarty, did brain scans and assessed the mental health of COVID survivors using phone and in-person interviews. They then matched these with a control group of people who had not contracted COVID.
The team, which included researchers at the Indian Statistical Institute in Kolkata and the Burdwan Medical College in Purba Bardhaman, found that more than 80% of people tested reported at least one of four symptoms – depression, anxiety, stress and insomnia – ranging from mild to severe.
Patients with higher socioeconomic status experienced less anxiety. At least 6.1% of the patients were diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment and 4% developed dementia.
More than 60% of the patients experienced a loss of taste and smell during the active phase of the infection. This could alter the function of brain areas linked to cognitive ability and emotional well-being, the researchers say.
doi: doi.org/10.1038/d44151-024-00168-7
www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1370085/full
They are also at higher risk of depression, anxiety and insomnia
COVID-19 survivors show signs of significant cognitive deficits which could become dementia even a year after having the virus 1 . They also have an increased risk of depression, anxiety and disrupted sleep.
People who have had COVID-19 should be subjected to close monitoring and regular check-ups to ensure early detection of cognitive impairment and timely therapeutic interventions, says a team of researchers at the Bangur Institute of Neurosciences in Kolkata.
Previous research has suggested that the coronavirus may enter the brain through the olfactory system but little is known about how the virus affects the brain.
To find out, the scientists, led by Atanu Biswas and Madhushree Chakrabarty, did brain scans and assessed the mental health of COVID survivors using phone and in-person interviews. They then matched these with a control group of people who had not contracted COVID.
The team, which included researchers at the Indian Statistical Institute in Kolkata and the Burdwan Medical College in Purba Bardhaman, found that more than 80% of people tested reported at least one of four symptoms – depression, anxiety, stress and insomnia – ranging from mild to severe.
Patients with higher socioeconomic status experienced less anxiety. At least 6.1% of the patients were diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment and 4% developed dementia.
More than 60% of the patients experienced a loss of taste and smell during the active phase of the infection. This could alter the function of brain areas linked to cognitive ability and emotional well-being, the researchers say.
doi: doi.org/10.1038/d44151-024-00168-7
www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1370085/full