Experience with post-Covid in dementia patient?

Covid can cause further cognitive decline in those with dementia. It can possibly also bring on dementia, which may begin with brain fog. There are many reliable medical studies ongoing if you care to look them up. I am not referring to idiots who make claims about Covid cures and are trying to sell cattle worming medicine on podcasts.

I know people who are participating in studies. In one case, the person has moved to assisted living with brain fog that has become dementia; they are meeting frequently with research doctors to monitor dementia progress. This person had a mild case of Covid in 2020.

So yes, information is out there. Unfortunately major media doesn’t seem interested in providing this information. We are expected to believe that Covid pandemic is over, but for you and your husband, it isn’t. That’s true of many of us.

There is so much information out there about long covid now, but it is just being studied in patients. They are uncertain why there is such a "brain fog" and apparently it lifts earlier for some than for others. There is some information coming now of mini-infarcts and blood vessel changes in the brain. It is seeming to also last longer in some patients than in others with age not necessarily a factor.

The problem with ascertaining how much covid might or might not be involved in his case is that he already has the diagnosis of some dementia, which you correctly observe changes and worsens all on its own.

There is so much out there regarding this illness that cannot be answered, and I am afraid your question, complicated as it is with an underlying dementia and a change of his living situation, is one of those questions that is just anyone's guess.

I sure wish you luck.

Covid has been reported to cause 'brain fog' in many people. Taking weeks or months to fully lift even in young healthy folk.

I've heard it can cause delerium in vulnerable elders, inc those with dementia. Which makes sence to me since UTIs, chest infections, influenalza & many other infections can cause delerium.

I suppose be aware sometimes it may linger or even remain but stay hopeful the fog does lift in time.

Wishing you & your DH a good outcome.

I'm with Catskie that any other causes should be discounted, including dehydration. I know the SNF facilities use water cups that have measurements on them so they can keep track, but they can't force him to drink and he's probably not able to have an IV. My MIL with mild dementia (and immobility) survived original covid in her facility. She was so sick she was on hospice and the family gathered to say goodbye. But then she had a full recovery. The older one is, the more time it takes to recoup.

Hopefully with time the fog will lift. He probably has some hospital induced delirium. That can cause behavior issues, fluctuating moods and hallucinations. Had he had recent labs and been checked for a UTI?