Researchers carried out a study that shows certain evidences of cognitive deficits in an individual after recovery from COVID-19.
New research was undertaken to detect significant cognitive deficits in COVID-19 patients after recovery. It was observed that the greater severity of COVID-19 would lead to the greater the persistence of cognitive problems in an individual. The research study was conducted by researchers from Imperial College London and was published in The Lancet journal EClinicalMedicine. Early in 2020, a project was designed by researchers to get a broad overview of the nation’s intelligence. It was UK-wide cognitive survey called as the Great British Intelligence Test.
As the year progressed, a new opportunity was set in to investigate the project of cognitive survey and impact of COVID-19 over human cognition. The data of 81,337 subjects was collected by the researchers to perform a research study. It was reported that around 12,000 subjects were recovered from COVID-19. From the study in consideration with various factors, the researchers identified a significant relationship between cognitive deficits and COVID-19 in an individual. It was observed that the reduction in the 0.47 standard deviation (SD) global composite score was higher in subjects among 20 to 70 year ages, who were hospitalized with ventilators, as compared to the average 10-year decline in global performance. The novel coronavirus infection led to the higher cognitive deficits than other diseases. The classic intelligence test showed that 0.47 SDs is equivalent to decline in 7-points in IQ.
The researchers inferred from the study that, the severity of the acute infection was directly impacted on the severity of cognitive problems. The subjects that admitted to hospital and put on a ventilator suffered with the greatest deficits than others. The study also observed that the greatest cognitive deficits in the subjects are found to be planning, reasoning and selective attention. Researchers further claimed that more research is needed to be undertaken to determine the physiological and biological basis of these cognitive deficits and also how long these deficits last.