New meta-analysis - SARS-CoV-2 leaves long-lasting neurological damage in millions.
This isn’t rare. Not "just stress."
It’s a massive biological hit to the brain - with consequences for the whole society.🧵
This isn’t rare. Not "just stress."
It’s a massive biological hit to the brain - with consequences for the whole society.🧵
https://twitter.com/BagaiDr/status/1938326068362195403
125 studies, over 4 million people, ≥6 months post-infection.
Prevalence of key symptoms:
Memory problems 27.8%
Cognitive impairment 27.1%
Sleep disorders 24.4%
Attention issues 23.8%
Fatigue 43.3% ...
Prevalence of key symptoms:
Memory problems 27.8%
Cognitive impairment 27.1%
Sleep disorders 24.4%
Attention issues 23.8%
Fatigue 43.3% ...
Many with mild outpatient COVID report persistent cognitive problems.
The brain is systematically affected across the full spectrum of disease severity.
The brain is systematically affected across the full spectrum of disease severity.
This meta-analysis doesn’t present a new biological mechanism.
Its value is different:
It shows how widespread this damage is
It quantifies the population-level impact
It turns scattered evidence into hard numbers
Its value is different:
It shows how widespread this damage is
It quantifies the population-level impact
It turns scattered evidence into hard numbers
Neuroinflammation, microvascular injury, BBB dysfunction - these are known.
What’s new here:
How common and persistent these brain-related symptoms are.
This isn’t a rare complication.
It’s a systemic crisis.
What’s new here:
How common and persistent these brain-related symptoms are.
This isn’t a rare complication.
It’s a systemic crisis.
Brain dysfunction isn't just a personal tragedy.
It’s a societal vulnerability:
Reduced productivity
Learning difficulties
Impaired relationships
Key professions under pressure (healthcare, education)
It’s a societal vulnerability:
Reduced productivity
Learning difficulties
Impaired relationships
Key professions under pressure (healthcare, education)
The brain is just the visible tip of the iceberg.
When cognition fails, you notice.
But underneath may lie next immune, vascular, and metabolic injury.
Neurological symptoms are a signal of deeper biological disruption.
And if we don’t take it seriously, it will keep eroding our collective capacity @szupraha @ZdravkoOnline
When cognition fails, you notice.
But underneath may lie next immune, vascular, and metabolic injury.
Neurological symptoms are a signal of deeper biological disruption.
And if we don’t take it seriously, it will keep eroding our collective capacity @szupraha @ZdravkoOnline
Elboraay et al., 2025, Long-term neurological and cognitive impact of COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis in over 4 million patients bmcneurol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.11…
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