We’re starting to understand more of what causes long COVID brain fog
Not only did a new study identify two blood proteins linked to cognitive difficulties a year after COVID-19 infection, but the authors make a point to warn doctors against gaslighting patients who report brain fog.
One of the most common symptoms described by many people with long COVID is “brain fog,” an informal term for the sluggish thinking and difficulty concentrating or remembering that never seems to completely go away. It’s similar to how someone might feel if severely jet-lagged or sleep-deprived, or the icky drowsiness that accompanies certain medications, like antihistamines. But with long COVID, brain fog can occur regardless of how much rest someone gets.
Now a new study has found a link between two particular blood proteins and cognitive symptoms six months and one year after a COVID diagnosis. What’s particularly interesting is that the proteins are involved in blood clotting. Microclots have been suspected as a likely culprit involved in the causes of long COVID for a while, but this is the first time scientists have linked specific blood clotting proteins with a key symptom of long COVID.
