As readers know, I am dubious about so-called long CV-19–the presence of ongoing symptoms long after the acute infection has been resolved. One of the most frequently cited of these symptoms is cognitive function, which is nebulous to detect at best. This paper examines the extent to which this symptom may actually exist. The authors found first that having a lower level of cognitive functioning meant you were more likely to be infected, reverse causality. Think about all the dementia patients in nursing homes and assisted living. After accounting for that, there was no association of CV-19 with declines in cognitive functioning. Doesn’t mean it may not happen, but appears to be rare, not common. And as with any serious illness, these longer term decrements to health can occur. (SSRN Paper)
CV-19 and Brain Function
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The Healthy Skeptic is a website about the health care system, and is written by Kevin Roche, who has many years of experience working in the health industry. Mr. Roche is available to assist health care companies through consulting arrangements through Roche Consulting, LLC and may be reached at khroche@healthy-skeptic.com.
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I too have been dubious about long covid. The only caveat I have encountered is that Victor Davis Hanson says he has had it, but getting better. Of course, VDH with long covid is so much smarter than I am that it could be hard to notice.