‘No evidence of severe Covid-19 brain damage’

A study led by the University of Maastricht showed that patients admitted to intensive care units with Covid-19 showed less signs of neurological damage than other critically ill patient groups.

Moreover, brain and thinking function of those whose illness was in its most severe form and who spent time in the IC ward were not significantly different from those who were hospitalized with the virus but were not admitted to IC. said the researcher.

However, more than half of the group in the study suffered from long-term problems such as fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and memory loss. It must be directed, researchers said.

Researchers expected that cognitive tests and MRI scans of those most affected by the virus would show the most neurological damage and would experience more problems than those unaffected.

“It wasn’t,” said lead researcher Caroline van Huten. “Her MRI scans in both groups were similar, but her MRI in the IC patient showed evidence of small hemorrhages in the brain. .

Long-term medical conditions such as fatigue and memory loss are also seen in people who never got seriously ill or never went to the hospital, Van Heugten said.

“Being very ill and isolated in an IC ward, and the general atmosphere of stress and fear in society, can exacerbate long-term problems. It is not unique to Covid-19 as it has been previously observed in

This research European Journal of Neurology.