There are several theories why cognitive problems may be more common in RA and other inflammatory types of arthritis. Memory, verbal communication, attention, concentration and problem-solving seemed to cause the most trouble. Yet most showed that people with rheumatoid arthritis performed more poorly on cognitive tests than their peers or controls. Many were small – less than 100 patients – and not all were high quality. Katz and her colleagues looked at 15 studies on RA and cognition published between 19. “We have relatively good literature on cognitive problems in lupus and fibromyalgia, where brain fog is well established, but nobody has really studied RA,” explains Patti Katz, PhD, a professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. It’s hard to say exactly how common fuzzy thinking is in RA because researchers have largely ignored it. Some say that the loss of mental clarity, commonly called brain fog, is almost as distressing as arthritis itself. They forget names and appointments, struggle to find the right words and have trouble making and carrying out plans. The research found that people who had mild cases of COVID-19 and experienced persistent cognitive issues had higher levels of immune activation and immunovascular markers in their cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) nearly a year after acute infection.ĭr.A lot of people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) report having trouble with memory, attention, and mental focus. Indeed, a March 2022 JAMA Neurology cohort study that followed the one-year trajectory of older (60 years and older) COVID-19 survivors concluded that “COVID-19 survival was associated with an increase in the risk of longitudinal cognitive decline.”Ī recent report documented research presented at the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) annual meeting held in May 2022. That doesn’t sound like much, but some experts estimate that a 2% reduction in brain volume is equivalent to 10 years of aging! In all, researchers noted that the reductions ranged from. Atrophy of a specific part of the brain’s cerebellum, which is linked to cognition.Tissue damage in areas that are connected to the primary olfactory cortex (also linked to smell).Loss of gray matter thickness in areas related to smell.Comparing before and after COVID infection brain scans, the study revealed several changes:
One of the largest COVID-19 brain imaging studies to date reveals a number of brain-related changes that provide possible explanations for brain fog and compromised cognition. It is believed that the COVID-19 virus crosses the blood-brain barrier by entering the nasal passage and traveling up the olfactory nerve directly to the brain where it can cause neural damage.
Some recent studies have documented several changes in the brains of COVID patients after acute infection-as well as evidence of immune and inflammatory responses in the nervous system that likely impact cognition. Medical researchers have been studying long COVID since 2020 in an effort to understand more clearly how the virus continues to impact overall health. Here’s what we know about the effects of long COVID on your brain, and more importantly, what can be done to minimize brain fog. It has been difficult for scientists to accurately assess its prevalence, but one of the most recent studies on the subject titled “Cognitive and Memory Deficits in Long COVID” states that cognitive dysfunction or “brain fog” is often the most common issue after fatigue and affects roughly 70% of those with long COVID. In fact, researchers have noted a number of changes to the brain and nervous system post-infection that are likely contributing to a cluster of symptoms called “ brain fog.” WHAT IS COVID BRAIN FOG?ĬOVID brain fog refers to the slower thinking or mental processing, confusion, memory issues, difficulty with concentration and focus, and overall compromised cognition present in long COVID patients. Click To TweetĪlthough it’s well-known that COVID attacks the respiratory system, it may be a surprise to learn that COVID also impacts the brain and nervous system.
Commonly called long COVID, the symptoms can be life-altering.Ĭognitive dysfunction or “brain fog” is often the most common issue after fatigue and affects roughly 70% of those with long COVID. For an estimated 37% of Americans who survived acute infection-including mild and asymptomatic cases-the impacts of COVID continue as they experience new and returning health issues weeks, months, and sometimes years after the infection has passed.
However, the far-reaching impact of the virus on health among survivors is only beginning to be understood. We’ve come a long way since the COVID-19 pandemic arrived in 2020. Hormone Evaluation and Replacement Therapy.Marital Conflict and Relationship Issues.
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