Cognitive impact from Covid. Any advice?

The latest studies on Long Covid show major brain changes in some patients, with measurable shrinking of the brain much like some dementias measured by MRI. You might speak with the MD who can best assess this case of covid, as each one is as individual as your own fingerprint. There are also many changes in mentation when there is any major electrolyte changes such as sodium or potassium. It is difficult to assess any patient even when they are sitting across from the doctor with lab sheet in hand, so take this case directly to the patient's doctor and sure do wish you the very best of luck. Do know that in acute covid, when there are any breathing difficulties, the lack of good oxygenated blood delivered to the brain also causes changes in mentation.

My MIL was in LTC in a facility when the first round of covid hit here in MN 2020. She got covid in May 2020. At that time, she was 86 yrs old, and other than mobility problems from a prior back break and memory issues, had no other underlying health risks. In the 4th week of her covid, the facility and the doctor recomomended her for hospice. Nine residents on her floor passed from covid. After several weeks in hospice, she recovered. Today she is 100% recovered. No lasting impact at all from her covid.

I got covid in 2021. I was 62 years old and healthy, with no underlying risks. I got it the day my healthcare provider sent me the email telling me I could get the first vaccine. It felt like the flu and those symptoms went away in about 10 days but I did have weird fatigue for a year that improved very slowly. Covid gave me tinnitus, and ramped up my vertigo (which did go away gradually after a year). The tinnitus remains unchanged but is manageable.

My friend, who got covid at the same time with the same symptoms, has residual brain fog. She has a preexisting heart/BP condition.

Until just last month my husband went unvaccinated. He was out and about in society the whole time (plays hockey 3x a week) and never got covid until this past spring. He's 64 and very healthy. He finally got vaccinated because he was needing to get into Canada for a hunting trip. He got his first Pfizer shot, then Canada lifted the requirement and he never got his 2nd.

My 93-yr old Mother refuses to get any boosters after her first shots. She's out and about in society every day (shopping, talking to neighbors) and hasn't gotten any iteration of covid. She has no underlying health risks. Ironically she does get the seasonal flu shot every year.

I personally know 3 people who died from covid. All had other risk factors: smoking (or had been a smoker), overweight, HBP, diabetes. The oldest was 77 and had all of the risk factors. The others were in their late 50s, smokers and overweight. What I remember the most is how quickly they went downhill once they got covid. I never asked but suspect none of them had been vaccinated.

Another family friend was extremely sick (female, late 40's, smoker, drinker, pot smoker). She had to be airlifted to a city hospital and put on a ventilator and in an induced coma but survived and recovered most of her health. I don't know if she had ever been vaccinated.

The strange thing about covid is how it affects everyone so uniquely. Its lasting impacts are so general that they can be easily missed, or construed to be caused by something else. There is no real way to know for sure.

I truly believe this is not an easily answered question.

My LO got a COVID infection in March 2019, and remained COVID positive for months. She began experiencing symptoms on a Friday, and the person who infected her had no symptoms until the following Sunday.

We were unable to visit until late Fall 2019, and visiting was spotty from then on.

DH and were unable to find the vaccine when we became eligible, and we both were infected in January 2021.

We were vaccinated in Spring 2021, and my LO sustained her second COVID I defection.

The differences in her cognitive functioning during our infrequent visits were painfully apparent. She had stopped walking and was using a wheelchair all the time, became incontinent, developed echolalia. When we saw her after her first infection she could recognize me and call me by name.

I became infected at age 77 years 6 months. I may have had problems fro COVID OR from previously diagnosed hypothyroidism OR from previously diagnosed Fibromyalgia.

Subsequent to my 5 weeks with COVID, I’ve taken two original shots, two original boosters and one Bivalent, all Pfizer.

I’d like to see a WELL RESEARCHED NON POLITICAL paper on the neurological impact of COVID. I’m back to actively playing my euphonium in three bands and feeling pretty sharp again, but I REFUSE to give in. I DO have severe fatigue, but obviously lots of reasons for that.

I hope that your mother will begin to show signs of her old self, and I hope that I’ll begin to recapture some of my old energy.

I had covid for 5 weeks and couldn't hold down food . I felt cold for sometime afterwards even in 80 degree heat . Finally I saw a acupuncturist and that helped me Immensely regain My Inner Body thermostat .

A close friend got Covid in the early days before there was a vaccine. He was at the top of his game mentally, very active and healthy. His case of Covid was mild. He donated plasma for treatment for others. However, after he’d been well for a month or two, he developed brain fog and fatigue. He had confusion and began to notice memory loss. He was being studied for long Covid. He hasn’t gotten better and recently moved to an assisted living facility because daily tasks are difficult for him. His symptoms appeared way before he got the vax, so it’s not possible the vax caused them.

Covid brain fog is for real. I've never felt dumber than during and immediately after infection and when I mentioned to some coworkers that I was currently foggy they told me of similar experiences. There is evidence that it's connected with the inflammation caused by the virus. I feel very lucky that my brain fog cleared up once I got well enough to go out and exercise, which is a well known inflammation reducer. I know many of our seniors are not so lucky to have that option.

"She is fatigued, agitated and has no appetite".

My relative had same. Has had to go into care for now as Covid brought lack of appetite, not eating, unable to self-care. Falls risk ++

Infections in the elderly are known to cause delerium. UTIs & chest infections especially but more & more I am hearing about delerium from Covid in 70+ age group.

Many young people in 20-30s (pre vaccines) reported brain fog & fatigue. Some quite severe. It does appear from what I've read that most have recovered well. Only time can tell.

Keep up the protein drinks & stay hopeful is all I can say.. (((hugs))) to you both.

Unfortunately there have been many studies that link covid to lingering brain fog and even accelerated Alzheimer's, even among those who never were severely ill.... the internet is full of it. Best we can do is treat the symptoms, whatever the cause.

Is she sick with covid or just testing positive? If she has/had a fever, etc. that could explain her behavior. My mom is wicked loopy when she has a fever.

My mother with no cognitive impairment whatsoever had her 1st covid vaccine March 3rd 2021. March 15th she became weak and was hospitalized with a critically low sodium level-9 days total, 3 in ICU. Went to rehab, 2 days later back to hospital for low sodium again,8 more days in hospital. Back to rehab, positive covid test 2 weeks later, put in isolation for 10 days, climbed from bed twice and fell. Second time she was admitted to the hospital AGAIN for another 8 days. She was discharged with skilled nursing at home. She's not the same person mentally. But who would be after 3 hospitizations & covid isolation in a short period of time. 6 MRI & CT scans all unchanged and were normal. EEG, Carotid artery test all normal.

Bumping up.

I am so sorry to hear this, Msblcb. I hope others here might have some info or experience to share. Anecdotally I recall hearing in media reports brain fog mentioned as COVID symptom. But your poor mom has a lot going on, unfortunately. I hope there is clarity for treatments for her and that she is feeling better soon.