Brain changes from covid-19 may impact consciousness and cognition

By Michael Le Page

NUMEROUS studies show that covid-19 often affects the brain, having a profound influence on people’s consciousness, cognition and behaviour – and possibly even their risk of dementia later in life.

“Mercifully, those affected are a minority of those infected,” says Benedict Michael at the University of Liverpool in the UK, “but those affected are severely affected.”

In addition, given the number of people who have been infected by the coronavirus, the impact of cognitive complications may be large and could have substantial effects on health systems.

How often does covid-19 affect the brain?

Very often. Paul Harrison at the …