COVID-19 increases the risk of brain fog and dementia
Just as the COVID-19 pandemic has begun to subside the world, a new study finds that the virus is linked to several health conditions. Compared to other respiratory infections, patients who’ve suffered from the novel coronavirus are more likely to be diagnosed with brain fog, dementia, and epilepsy two years later as per a study published in The Lancet Psychiatry Journal. In this Pacific Prime UK article, we’ll go into further detail and arm you with knowledge.
COVID-19 patients were studied over two years
The study has been conducted by the University of Oxford and the NIHR Oxford Health Biomedical Centre. Over two years, the study analysed 1.25 million cases of COVID-19, mostly those in the US, and looked at the risks of 14 disorders. Next, the study compared the findings with a closely-matched group of 1.25 million people who suffered from a different respiratory infection.
However, it’s vital to clarify that the study didn’t monitor individuals over two years – it just analysed the number of people with a new diagnosis two years on. Additionally, the study didn’t look at the severity or duration of each diagnosis, and whether it was similar after COVID-19 compared with other respiratory infections. Finally, it’s also possible that the study underrepresented self-diagnosed, asymptomatic cases as these are more likely to go unnoticed.
But the findings of the results are still hugely significant. As Dr Max Taquet, who led the analyses at the University of Oxford, said in an article by The Guardian:
“The findings shed new light on the longer-term mental and brain health consequences for people following COVID-19 infection. The results have implications for patients and health services and highlight the need for more research to understand why this happens after COVID-19, and what can be done to prevent these disorders from occurring, or treat them when they do.”
There was a clear link between COVID-19 and specific health conditions
The group with COVID-19 also had more new cases of specific health conditions two years after they suffered from the novel coronavirus. These include:
- Dementia, stroke, and brain fog in adults over the age of 65
- Brain fog in adults aged between 18 and 64*
- Epilepsy and psychotic disorders in children (but the overall risks were small)
*Brain fog (i.e., problems with memory and concentration) is a common symptom of “long COVID”, but the study didn’t call these conditions “long COVID”.
Interestingly, some health conditions were less common two years after COVID-19. These include:
- Anxiety and depression in adults and children
- Psychotic disorders in adults
This is because the elevated risk of depression and anxiety in adults lasts less than two months and then usually bounces back to normal levels.
Get in touch with Pacific Prime UK today!
Whether you suffered from COVID-19 or managed to dodge the virus in the past two years, the findings of this study are a helpful reminder that health and wellbeing are of utmost importance. To put your health first and ensure access to the best healthcare, it’s a good idea to secure a comprehensive private health insurance plan. Not only will you be able to skip the long wait times associated with the National Health Service (NHS), but you’ll also have better amenities and more comfort.
As a global health insurance brokerage, with 20+ years of industry experience, Pacific Prime UK is at your service. Our knowledgeable, impartial, and friendly insurance advisors will provide you with a tailored plan comparison of all your options in the market, and empower you to find the right plan for your needs and budget. What’s more, they’ll also be there to support you throughout your insurance journey – from insurer liaison to claims reimbursement and more.
Contact us today to get the ball rolling!
With over 5 years of experience in the field, Suphanida spends the majority of her day synthesizing complex pieces of insurance-related information and translating this into easy-to-understand, engaging, and effective content across a variety of media such as articles, infographics, whitepapers, videos, and more.
Suphanida is also responsible for planning and publishing three whitepapers released annually by Pacific Prime: The State of Health Insurance Report, The Cost of Health Insurance Report, and The Global Employee Benefits Trends Report. Additionally, she handles the LinkedIn profiles of Pacific Prime’s Founder and CEO, as well as Global HR Lead.
Suphanida’s strengths lie in her strong research and analytical skills, which she has gained from her BA in Politics from the University of Warwick and Erasmus Mundus Joint MA in Journalism from Aarhus University and City, University of London.
Being of Thai-Indian origin and having lived, studied, and worked in Thailand, the UK, and Denmark, Suphanida also has a unique, multicultural perspective that helps her understand the struggles of expats and globetrotters.
Outside of work, she enjoys traveling to new places and immersing herself in different cultures.
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