A recent preliminary study conducted in the United Kingdom confirms that the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus has a significant impact on the brains of sick people. The researchers mention in particular a ten-year aging of the brain due to the disease. However, this study should be taken with a grain of salt for several reasons.
We know that the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus can cause pulmonary sequelae, even in asymptomatic people. A preliminary study conducted by Imperial College London (United Kingdom) and published on the medRxiv platform on October 21, 2020 evokes sequelae at the cerebral level. According to the leaders of the study, it is a question of a mental decline comparable to a cerebral aging of about ten years.
The team analyzed the cognitive test results of 84,285 people . Among these people, some have contracted the virus and others have simply been suspected of possible infection. The cognitive tests discussed here usually tend to verify performance people with Alzheimer's disease. This type of assessment concerns the ability of these people to solve problems, manage their emotions and their attention.
According to the results, individuals cured of coronavirus have poorer performance than those who were not infected. In addition, those who had a severe form of the disease suffered a significant cognitive impact. The leaders of the study mention a decline of ten years on average in their overall performance, between the ages of 20 and 70 years.
These results are therefore rather worrying, although they provide additional elements in the understanding of the effects of the coronavirus on the organism. However, the study should be taken with a grain of salt. Indeed, this is only a preliminary study having only been the subject of a pre-publication. In other words, the study has not yet been verified by other researchers s. However, this should happen in the near future.
Let's also mention that the scientists conducted the tests on the volunteers after they contracted the virus. There is therefore no test data on these people before the arrival of the disease. In other words, the study does not make it possible to formally establish a measure of cognitive decline. Finally, let's mention the fact that this research does not specify whether the decline is permanent or not.
