Nearly five years have passed since the coronavirus pandemic spread across the world, and doctors and researchers continue to learn more about this novel virus. Among their biggest discoveries is that although COVID-19 primarily appears to be a respiratory virus, it can also affect several other body systems, and its neurological symptoms are numerous.
Research has shown that many COVID-19 patients have experienced psychological and neurological effects on their nervous systems.
In addition to the respiratory damage the virus causes to the lungs, COVID-19 can lead to psychological issues and disorders affecting the nervous system and brain.
Studies indicate that the coronavirus can cause brain swelling, blood clots, and other long-term health problems.
Some of these complications may last for weeks or even months after recovery.
In this article, we will discuss the most important neurological symptoms of COVID-19 that can affect your nervous system.
The neurological symptoms of COVID-19 vary. You might experience “brain fog,” have difficulty concentrating, suffer from hallucinations, short-term memory loss, or even shortness of breath.
1. You May Develop “Brain Fog”
A recent study reported that some COVID-19 patients are prone to developing “brain fog,” where they feel as if the illness has put them in a hazy mental state.
One patient described their experience by saying: “You feel mentally confused, as if your brain is sinking into fog.”
This may be caused by the neurological effects of the virus, as well as the anxiety and isolation that accompany the recovery period.
2. You May Struggle to Concentrate
This is another common symptom researchers have found among people who have had COVID-19.
Researcher Sarah Manavis wrote in The New Statesman:
“People all over the world are trying to overcome one of the global problems caused by this pandemic: a lack of focus. But it seems almost impossible to maintain concentration on anything.”
When the brain faces an immediate physical threat, the more complex frontal cortex shuts down to allow the more primitive parts to focus solely on survival.
Even if you’re not infected, you may have trouble concentrating these days. Online searches for “how to focus” have increased significantly since the pandemic began.
3. You May Experience Hallucinations
A study found that neurological symptoms such as hallucinations were present in 40% of COVID-19 patients in Wuhan, China.
4. You May Develop Delirium
Some COVID-19 patients are placed on ventilators to help them breathe, and they are also given strong sedatives as part of the process.
This combination can lead to a phenomenon called “post-intensive care unit delirium.”
Researchers believe this may be caused by a lack of oxygen in the brain and the buildup of carbon dioxide in the body.
Delirium may also result from the side effects of certain anesthetic or pain-relieving medications.
5. You May Suffer Short-Term Memory Loss
New research has shown that the coronavirus can have a temporary effect on the memory of infected individuals.
This may be due to low blood oxygen levels, blocked veins, or blood clots.
A 28-year-old COVID-19 patient said, “Lately, my memory has become really bad.”
Another recovered patient stated:
“For a while, I couldn’t think or remember words, not even basic terms.”
Someone else added:
“I spent weeks without talking to anyone because it took so much effort to remember who they were.”
6. You May Feel Strange Vibrating Sensations
Some COVID-19 patients have reported experiencing tingling or vibrating sensations when touching surfaces.
This could be due to the virus’s effects on the brain and nervous system.
7. You May Develop Problems in the Sympathetic Nervous System
The impact of the virus on the nervous system can be more severe in some cases. Some patients may experience issues in the sympathetic nervous system.
This system controls involuntary processes such as heart rate and breathing. Shortness of breath is one of the most common symptoms.
However, COVID-19 can also cause heart problems such as arrhythmia, or unusually slow or fast heartbeats.
8. You May Experience Shortness of Breath
Some COVID-19 patients feel shortness of breath even when their oxygen levels are normal.
They may even experience symptoms similar to heart attacks, despite having normal ECG and chest X-ray results.
Researchers have said these symptoms may be psychosomatic or part of the immune system’s response to the virus.
9. You May Experience Unusual Dream Activity During Sleep
One interesting side effect of the coronavirus pandemic is the number of people who have noticed unusual dream activity during the crisis.
A study conducted by YouGov in the United States a few weeks ago indicated that one-third of people infected with the virus reported dreaming more than before.
The pandemic has led to unusually vivid and active dreams.
The study showed that some people have had disturbing and unsettling dreams, while others reported more pleasant ones.
This may be because the brain processes intense emotions during sleep through dreams.
Some people believe that dreams act as a mental defense mechanism, giving us a chance to confront our fears and rehearse for stressful real-life events.
If you’ve been noticing many dreams about your past or childhood, it could be your brain pushing you to revisit old memories as a way to escape current reality.
Therefore, this global pandemic and the restrictions that come with it may have significant effects on our dreams.
10. Many Patients Experience Insomnia
Many COVID-19 patients suffer from severe insomnia, anxiety, and difficulty falling asleep.
This can be due to their fear of losing consciousness while sleeping.
One recovered patient said, “I was extremely scared because I thought I wouldn’t wake up.”
A 28-year-old patient added, “I was completely convinced I would die in my sleep.”
Some patients may also experience insomnia due to other reasons, such as pain. Unfortunately, this can have negative effects, as good sleep is essential for a healthy immune system.
11. You May Experience Depression and Emotional Disturbances
Recovering from a potentially deadly disease like COVID-19 can lead to emotional problems such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
All of these conditions may require psychological treatment and rehabilitation for a long period, even after recovery.
In Conclusion : After reviewing the potential effects of the coronavirus on the brain and nervous system, research is still ongoing regarding this new virus and its various impacts.
