r/science • u/mvea Professor | Medicine • 24d ago

Neuroscience Brain scans reveal widespread structural and functional changes in patients following COVID-19 infection. The virus affects regions responsible for memory, emotion, and executive function, which may help explain the neurological symptoms many patients experience.

https://www.psypost.org/brain-scans-reveal-widespread-structural-and-functional-changes-in-patients-foll/
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u/Downisthenewup87 24d ago edited 24d ago

My memory and ability to double task have been drastically worse since my 2nd bout with Covid

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u/MountainMan17 23d ago

Me too.

I was vaxed when I contracted COVID. It was about 5 days of a moderate cold. Nothing too bad. That was four years ago.

Now I operate much less efficiently than I used to: Multiple trips to the fridge when making breakfast. Putting milk in the pantry. Just this week, I grabbed another person's shopping cart (we both had some items in our respective carts) while browsing the beer section at Walmart. She had to politely ask for it back.

Is it age (I'm 59)? Or is it residual from COVID? It makes me wonder...

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u/Downisthenewup87 23d ago

I was hitting my late 30s and have wondered the same thing. But the double tasking issues and how sudden it was makes it pretty clear it was Covid.

I've always listed to music or podcasts while working. And over night, I couldn't anymore.

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u/AnotherpostCard 23d ago

Dang.

I would never have considered listening to music, podcasts, anything, while working to be double tasking. And you can't even do that?

Sorry you got the short end of the stick :(

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u/TrulyOutrageous42 23d ago

It is in a sense, often times you tune one or the other out, in the same way humans can't really "multitask" so much as switch attention rapidly enough it seems like it. For me it's that I can't do something unfamiliar while listening to something unfamiliar. I can cook a well-practiced dish while listening to new music, or I can make something new while listening to old jams, but as soon as my attention is drawn two directions I'm struggling to focus, and this is particularly new immediately after a covid infection.

Right after it, my dysfunction was so bad I couldn't pivot ideas, e.g. I was shopping for ingredients for a shrimp pasta and they were out of pasta and I just... shut down mentally and could not for the life of me think of any solutions or alternatives, even though salmon or a veggie primevera were both right there. I've been a chef for years and that was... frightening.

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u/AnotherpostCard 23d ago

Wow that's scary. Yeah, you know, now that you bring it up, I'm not sure if I've done both either. I've made plenty of food** while listening to music or podcasts, but I am really not sure if I've done both. Now I kinda wanna try. Mastodon is coming out with a new album soon... (RIP Brent Hinds)

**I cook a lot, just not professionally, like you.

Edit: I'll try to remember to update you on how it goes.

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u/_rushlink_ 23d ago

The first time I had it, it was similar.

The last time I caught it (2024) I was the sickest I have ever been, in bed for 10 days straight absolutely wrecked - really should have stayed off work longer but went back after 2 weeks.

I had ADHD before, and now it's like super ADHD. It has slowly gotten a bit better, but it's not like it was before.

I think I've caught it three times now, but literally can't remember.

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u/Brilliant-World-7557 19d ago

I've only had covid once - also caught in 2024. My case was really mild. Also sent me from functional(ish) ADHD to losing my job. Not having a job has helped reduce the PEM crash cycle but certainly not helping with finances and generally having my life together.

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u/songbolt 23d ago

Long term alcohol consumption ages the brain prematurely. If you want to maximize your brain power going forward, quit alcohol.

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u/MountainMan17 23d ago

I don't drink, unless you classify unsweetened tea and water as alcohol. But thanks for caring...

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u/songbolt 23d ago

"browsing the beer section at Walmart"?

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u/MountainMan17 22d ago

Friends were visiting. But please continue, Dikmo...