The impact of COVID-19 on the brain was compared with aging for 20 years

In the course of the study, scientists studied the data of 46 patients with a severe form of coronavirus infection aged 28 to 83 years. Six months after the illness, patients were asked to undergo a test that revealed cognitive parameters (memory, attention, anxiety, reaction speed, the likelihood of developing depression and post-traumatic disorder). When the results were compared with the average of 66,000 people, it turned out that the speed and accuracy of responses suffered in those who had coronavirus. In addition, their IQ scores dropped, and the overall decline in cognitive function was equivalent to brain aging from 50 to 70 years.