r/science • u/Wagamaga • Feb 03 '25

Neuroscience Scientists discover that even mild COVID-19 can alter brain proteins linked to Alzheimer’s disease, potentially increasing dementia risk—raising urgent public health concerns.

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/260553/covid-19-linked-increase-biomarkers-abnormal-brain/
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580

u/[deleted] Feb 03 '25

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163

u/goooshie Feb 03 '25

Between two kids and countless COVID, my mind is shot, I can’t even figure out how to verbalize where I am now compared to where I used to be.

74

u/b0w3n Feb 03 '25

I know someone that's had it 3-4 times and they're starting to turn into a different person now. They'll start ignoring things to the point where it hurts them both physically and mentally. I have no idea what to do to help them and it's getting to the point where even if I try to be supportive it'll trigger a fight because they will ask for advice and telling them the advice is met with frustration.

48

u/AceOBlade Feb 03 '25

covid brain fog is real.

157

u/littleladym19 Feb 03 '25

I had COVID once, fairly mild but it was absolutely exhausting. Sometimes I can’t put together a simple sentence that makes sense when spoken out loud. I know it sounds dumb and I just hope that people know what I mean when I say it. It’s so embarrassing as a professional and someone with two degrees.

45

u/midnightauro Feb 03 '25

I haven’t lost any intelligence or ability to think about deep topics, but my cognitive speed absolutely sucks. I’ve only had COVID verified once but possibly twice, and my ability to hold full conversations at normal speed is shot.

If I can write my answers, I’m golden. Takes a tiny bit longer than it used to proofreading, but I can keep up in group chat. If you ask face to face though, the likelihood that I’ll forget the rest of my thought mid answer is high.

9

u/Bryopolis Feb 03 '25

This is my feels exactly

4

u/Dokterrock Feb 03 '25

Sometimes I can’t put together a simple sentence that makes sense when spoken out loud

this is me on gummies

29

u/perst_cap_dude Feb 03 '25

Same, I recently forgot two of my friends names, in one instance I actually confused his clearly different brother for my good friend for almost half an hour. He was gracious enough to point it out later, but I dont think Ive ever scared myself like this, btw, mid 30's

61

u/fozz31 Feb 03 '25

I had it a few times, and i've seen a major cognitive decline. I used to be able to manipulate objects mentally woth ease, think spinning an object in your mind and accurately predicting how it would look from different angles. Now i cant even do it for a simple cube. I also have to take my time a lot more with writing things, i am now more prone to typos, or skipping entire words, or replacing words with inappropriate ones without realizing. I've never had auto correct on, but i think i might meed to start, because i am sure i will have missed a few mistakes even in this. Covid for me has meant very real very measurable brain damage.

32

u/tinyhorsesinmytea Feb 03 '25

Same… three times and a very noticeable impact. Most obviously, I can’t immediately remember words, names, titles of things… or passwords, birthdays, recipe measurements, etc. I lose my train of thought much easier. I like to say the data is all still in there, so the hard drive hasn’t been corrupted, but the processor speed has been compromised and it’s harder to access.

4

u/fozz31 Feb 04 '25

Thats a decent analogy, one that applies to me as well. It's like my memories and experiences are all there, but the execution of things is just... off?

14

u/Tostecles Feb 04 '25

I have the same word thing. Struggle to find my words verbally and FREQUENTLY transpose random words when typing without realizing it at all. It's honestly scary

2

u/[deleted] Feb 04 '25 edited Feb 06 '25

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4

u/Tostecles Feb 04 '25

I was diagnosed with ADHD last year and the associated symptoms have felt like they've gotten worse in the last ~5 which is what lead me to seek a diagnosis in the first place. (Will turn 31 this year.) So I definitely buy the "fleeting distraction" thing. Unfortunately though, the "can't find the word I'm looking for" thing happens even at work when I'm discussing something on a call, when I'm fully plugged in and trying to not sound like a total dipshit.

15

u/IBetYourReplyIsDumb Feb 03 '25

I've had this as well, but I don't know if it's due to ageing, or something else.

15

u/[deleted] Feb 03 '25

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2

u/ISeenYa Feb 04 '25

It felt like I developed ADHD after I had covid. Never had issues with concentration before but absolutely struggle now.

25

u/Elcamina Feb 03 '25

I have had this as well, had covid twice and now I just forget things or can’t think of words or generally feel like I’m missing something. I also find my reading comprehension has decreased and sometimes I am reading something three or more times to understand what it’s really saying. Very scary.

13

u/cute_polarbear Feb 03 '25

I am honestly not sure my personal general increased difficulty in focusing is due to this or due to the prolonged lock down, or the psychology effects from covid catastrophy...

7

u/iolmao Feb 03 '25

this. Before 2019 we had to worry about what? One? Two major stuff globally?

Right now we have warnings of a global war, Putin talking about nuclear attacks, Israel war, economic crisis, rising of far-right movements. And all we receive back is "hey offices are super important"

Brain definitely can't grasp all of this.

I vote for the post pandemic setting more than the covid itself.

I had it twice and yes, maybe I don't remember every single band of my teenage, but my brain is in big shape, I can stay sharp-focused on things.

Am I different from 10 years ago? OF COURSE but definitely not because of covid.

2

u/Ok_Frosting3500 Feb 04 '25

Before Trump and Brexit, we all felt that we could trust the average person to do the right things for others on a societal level.

Before Covid, we all felt we could trust the average person to do the right thing for others on a personal level.

The social media age has led to a boom in 1980s Wallstreet Me-me-me focus and priorities, each of us getting fed our own myopic world by our tailored bubbles. 

(And of course, part of the trust/common bridge between us is disrupted by the fact that between long covid and social media brain and attention span rot, you get lots of reason to not think highly of the reasons, reactions, or general aptitude of other people you encounter in public.)

1

u/iolmao Feb 04 '25

I use to say this (I'm 42): "Before the pandemic I felt like a teenager among adults.

After the pandemic I feel like an adult among teenagers"

This to say that I've always perceived my co-workers of my same age, wiser and more "grown up" than me.

After the pandemic I've realised how much wiser I am, compared to other same-aged people that act like teenagers.

1

u/ISeenYa Feb 04 '25

I also wonder if it's because I use my phone too much

2

u/MonkAndCanatella Feb 03 '25

I've had a couple times (that I know of!) and it absolutely has hit me that way. I forget as in completely lose certain words, and that effect where you walk into a room only to forget completely why you did so happens all the time, even without the doorway effect. I think most people have this but just don't notice it

1

u/apcolleen Feb 04 '25

Depending on what you have going on, try abdominal compression garments. I am waiting for my appt at a dysautonomia clinic (in DECEMBER) but I've had these problems long before covid and I haven't yet gotten covid or if I did it was asymptomatic. But I wore compression tanktop and compression leggings for my dental appointment today and it helped so much. It made driving easier too because theres more blood in my brain instead of pooling in my abdomen. It helps me more than compression socks.

1

u/mashtato Feb 04 '25

And just think, the whole WORLD is like this...

1

u/hiero_ Feb 04 '25

You're not alone. Me too. I have felt chronically... slower and stupider since 2022, when I first got it.

1

u/HeyRainy Feb 04 '25

I had it twice that I know of and I feel the same way, like my ability to recall things like I used to is gone, I feel slightly dumber. It also took my sense of smell, so I have no doubt about whether it can screw with your brain, my nose is fine.

1

u/Ahzelton Feb 04 '25

I have had it 4 times and I have absolutely no recall or short term memory. I will remember (maybe) phone calls I had but not what was discussed. There's no world where I can say, oh I'll do that tomorrow and actually remember. I now have to write everything down and set alarms. It's horrible.