Sahar Mourad
Mind

Concerning impact of long Covid on the brain

Almost two years since Australia plunged into lockdown due to Covid-19, we are still learning many things about the virus. 

Symptoms of this contagious disease range from mild to severe and people can recover easily, while others struggle to get better.

This can be known as long Covid, where symptoms last for weeks or even months, affecting the body greatly. 

But doctors are now concerned about the effect long Covid has on the brain which shows a decrease in size of the organ.

"Parts of the brain related to smell and emotion were found to be smaller when scans were done for patients who have had COVID-19," Neuroscientist Dr Rahul Jandial told Today.

"There are things you can do to improve COVID fog, and the horizon is optimistic, but it does affect the brain."

He recommends exercise, eating better, and getting more sleep to combat the brain fog but understands that it is a bit more difficult when you have long Covid. 

Like chemotherapy patients, Dr Jandial recommends double the intake of coffee and training concentration for brain fog. 

Dr Jandial does however say “three things stand the test of time”, and that includes walking, sticking to the Mediterranean diet, and interacting with people. 

Image: Shutterstock

Tags:
covid, brain, symptoms, help