We’re still struggling to find a precise definition of, and methods to diagnose, Long COVID, but a substantial minority of those infected with the coronavirus have symptoms that persist for weeks to years after being infected. Among the most prominent symptoms of Long COVID are fatigue and cognitive/executive function disturbances.
Researchers have documented both subjective complaints of, and detectable impairments in, immediate memory, delayed memory, planning, and visual attention. Preliminary work indicates that pre-frontal attentional circuitry is more implicated than memory-encoding network deficits. These findings suggest a strong overlap with core executive function deficits described in ADHD.
Long COVID is likely to increase the severity of symptoms of those already with ADHD, convert some “subsyndromal” cases of ADHD to meet full ADHD criteria, and create new cases of “secondary ADHD”.
Recovery from the cognitive effects of Long COVID remains possible, but exploration of who is most vulnerable, predictors for improvement or resolution of symptoms, and best treatments, are still in their infancy.
References:
Cognition and Memory after Covid-19 in a Large Community Sample (2024)
www.nejm.org/d...
COVCOG 2: Cognitive and Memory Deficits in Long COVID: A Second Publication From the COVID and Cognition Study (2022)
www.ncbi.nlm.n...
Alleviation of Post-COVID-19 Cognitive Deficits by Treatment with EGb 761®: A Case Series (2022)
www.ncbi.nlm.n...
Cognitive impairment after long COVID-19: current evidence and perspectives (2023)
www.ncbi.nlm.n....
General:
Psychiatrist, neuroscientist, and author John Kruse, MD, PhD presents practical, actionable, well-researched information about treatment options that scientists and clinicians recommend for adult ADHD and other mental health conditions. Subscribe if you're curious about how neuro-atypical brains can optimize their functioning in our shared, and somewhat strange, world.
Dr. Kruse has posted talks in both the "live" and the "video" sections of this channel. Thumbnails on ADHD topics have a pink background, and those on more general mental health topics have a purple background. A small collection of ADHD-Trump videos have an orange background.
You're welcome to email him with topics you want discussed, people you think he should interview, or if you would prefer a time for the weekly RU-vid Live option other than Tuesdays at 6:00 pm (Pacific Standard Time).
1 окт 2024
