COVID survivors at risk of early dementia

Experts have warned that the coronavirus could increase the risk of dementia in patients with long COVID-19 by a factor of five.
Researchers from the University of Texas Health Sciences have noted that people over 57 years old with long-term COVID-19 present with signs similar to early-stage Alzheimer’s disease.

This is especially true in older patients. The ongoing study, which included 4,000 people over 60 years of age, identified the coronavirus as infected.
About one third of patients over 65 with long-term symptoms show mild cognitive impairment, which may be a precursor to dementia.

This means that the prevalence of these conditions among this group of patients is four to five times higher than among those without long-term symptoms of COVID-19.
Although mild cognitive impairment does not always lead to dementia, about one in six patients with cognitive impairment subsequently develop dementia within a year.

Recent data confirm that patients who have had COVID-19 are at higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. More than half of these patients report problems with concentration and other cognitive impairment.

Last August, a study was published covering almost a million people. It showed that two-thirds of patients over 65 years of age hospitalized due to the virus showed a decline in cognitive function.

But there is some good news: experts say treating post-COVID symptoms can help restore mental capacity.