(UFU - 2021)Covid brain is one of many issues that

(UFU - 2021)

Covid brain is one of many issues that can plague so-called Covid-19 long haulers, or those who continue to have medical issues long after the infection has passed. It’s marked by memory loss, trouble focusing, headaches, and fuzzy or sluggish thinking. Cognitive impairments are just one part of the picture. The symptoms can last for weeks or months.

Symptoms that linger after Covid-19 infection are so common that organizations are cropping up to connect long haulers with one another to share their experiences and connect with researchers. But of all long-lasting symptoms, brain fog has left people the most confused — literally. Most people notice Covid-19-related brain fog days to weeks after the initial symptoms subside, says Shruti Agnihotri, MD, associate professor of neurology. Others experience them right away.

Several studies have tried to pinpoint the number of people affected by Covid brain. One, from December 2020, looked at 120 French patients an average of almost four months after they were infected and found that 34 percent reported memory loss, 28 percent had trouble concentrating, and 31 percent had sleep difficulties.

Another study identified neurological symptoms in 82 percent of 419 patients at some point in the course of the disease, including about a third who had problems with mental function. The issues don’t seem to be related to how severe the illness was. “We see it in patients who were in the ICU and needed intubation, but we’ve also seen it in patients with mild or asymptomatic disease,” says Dr. Agnihotri. In fact, she says, Covid brain may happen more in people with milder illness.

The medical term for a condition that triggers symptoms like brain fog is encephalopathy, which includes any disease or damage that changes the way the brain functions. Brain fog-like symptoms have been linked to everything from menopause, jet lag, and cancer treatment to medications like antihistamines and other viral infections. Severe illnesses in general can cause brain fog.

Based on patients who have brain fog from other conditions, about a third recover completely, another third will have ongoing symptoms that improve gradually, and others will have permanent issues (more common in folks who were intubated, had organ failure, or who were under anesthesia). There’s no specific treatment for these post-Covid-19 symptoms, says Dr. Glatt. But you’re not completely powerless. Many of the same strategies used to boost your brain in general may help in this specific instance as well. So get exercise and plenty of sleep. Eat a healthy diet high in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. And avoid alcohol and drugs.

Disponível em: <https://www.thehealthy.com>. Acesso em: 30 maio 2021.

Based on the text, answer the following questions.

A) List the most common symptoms Covid-19 long haulers usually feel.

B) What do doctors know so far about Covid-19-related brain fog and how to treat patients?