Potential contributor to dementia burden

The study authors noted that impaired cognition is common in the months after COVID-19 infection, especially among older patients. “It is worth noting that 21% of individuals with severe cases in this cohort experienced progressive cognitive decline, suggesting that COVID-19 may cause long-lasting damage to cognition,” they wrote.

“These findings imply that the pandemic may substantially contribute to the world dementia burden in the future.”

Potential factors in post-COVID cognitive decline, the authors said, include long-term low oxygen levels, chronic systemic inflammation, and direct viral invasion of the brain and resultant neuronal damage.

“In this cohort study of COVID-19 survivors 60 years and older who were discharged from COVID-19–designated hospitals in Wuhan, China, SARS-CoV-2 infection, especially severe infection, was associated with an increase in risk of longitudinal cognitive decline,” the researchers concluded. “The findings highlight the importance of immediate measures to deal with this challenge.”

Source: Mental decline seen in older COVID patients 1 year later | CIDRAP