Brain fog more common two years after contracting COVID

As reported by BBC News, a study by the University of Oxford has found that diagnoses of brain fog are more common than other respiratory infections two years after having COVID

The study also suggested that in the years after contracting COVID, diagnoses of conditions such as dementia and epilepsy were also higher than from other infections.

The research did however conclude that levels of anxiety and depression are no more likely two years on.

Previous research suggested that adults were at greater risk of brain and mental health conditions, six months after COVID.

This study analysed 14 different disorders in 1.25m patients in the US, two years on from COVID and compared this with a group of 1.25m people with different respiratory infections.

In the group who had COVID, after two years, cases increased of:

• dementia, stroke and brain fog in adults aged over 65
• brain fog in adults aged 18-64
• epilepsy and psychotic disorders in children, although the overall risks were small

For example, children’s risk of developing epilepsy was 260 in 10,000, compared to 130 in 10,000 after another respiratory infection.

Prof Paul Harrison, the lead study author, said the reports were “worrying” but also that reports of lower levels of depression and anxiety were “good news”.

The researchers also commented that the numbers were “hard to ignore” but “not a tsunami”, and that further research was necessary.

The study did not look at how COVID could cause mental health disorders, although some experts believe this is explained by the development of micro blood clots. It also did not use the term “long COVID”, although brain fog is a typical symptom.