Research has suggested that Covid-19 can cause a “substantial” drop in intelligence in people recovering from the virus. The Great British Intelligence Test examined the IQ of 81,337 people across the UK from January to December last year. Of the people surveyed, 13,000 had contracted the novel coronavirus and were found to have the largest drop off in intelligence.
It was found that people recovering from Covid had difficulties with problem solving, planning, and reasoning as compared to people who were never infected. Data also suggested that virus survivors who had spent time on a ventilator in hospital lost the equivalent of seven IQ points.
The study has sparked fears the disease could have long-term cognitive impacts, in a similar way to the lasting effects strokes or micro bleeds have on the brain.
The Covid research by scientists from Britain and the US was published in Lancet-owned journal, EClinicalMedicine. They asked respondents to take on a series of questions to test their mental capacities. Researchers found people who had Covid had a lower cognitive score than they were modelled to have if they have not been infected, based on their age, sex, occupation, and other factors. The writers wrote, “These results accord with reports of long-Covid, where brain fog, trouble concentrating and difficulty finding the correct words are common.”
The authors wrote, “Previous studies in hospitalised patients with respiratory disease not only demonstrate objective and subjective cognitive deficits but suggest these remain for some at five-year follow-up.” They warned the study could provide conclusive evidence that a person's long term IQ can be damaged by Covid with brain imaging data.
This is not the first time researchers have looked into Covid and cognitive impairments. A previous research by Imperial College, London showed Covid could have real “chronic cognitive consequences.”
