Are you feeling sluggish and less sharp after a COVID-19 infection? You’re not alone. Research shows that about 70% of people with long COVID symptoms report experiencing brain fog. It’s the second most commonly reported symptom, after fatigue.
Brain fog refers to a set of symptoms including reduced cognition, difficulty concentrating, issues with memory and inability to multitask. COVID brain fog typically arises in the first few months after initial COVID symptoms. Although not life-threatening, COVID brain fog symptoms can significantly impact your quality of life and may have you asking the question is covid brain fog permanent?
Scientists are getting a clearer picture of how long COVID brain fog lasts and how to improve covid brain fog symptoms. Here’s a look at what the research shows.
How long does COVID brain fog last?
If you suffer from Brain fog you may be wondering does covid brain fog go away? Often, COVID brain fog goes away in a few months. In 2021, a study out of Oxford University showed that the majority of participants reported improving brain fog after 4-6 months.
In extreme cases, brain fog symptoms post-COVID linger much longer. Researchers at Northwestern University found that participants had no significant change in brain fog nearly 15 months after their initial covid symptoms, on average. They also found that individuals suffering from post-COVID brain fog had worse quality of life than the average American.
More research is still needed to determine how long covid brain fog will last for individuals.
What if the Brain Fog Lingers?
It may feel like COVID brain fog is permanent. The good news is that most brain fog symptoms improve overtime.
If brain fogs symptoms linger, it’s likely due to the many ways the COVID virus can damage your brain. The exact cause of COVID brain fog is unknown. Scientists theorize that it may be due to inflammation in the brain, lack of oxygen to the brain and/or the immune-response due to COVID-19 infection.
Thankfully, there are ways to manage lingering COVID brain fog.
What can you do to manage COVID brain fog symptoms?
As always, you should first talk to your doctor about any new or worsening symptoms. Then, you can try a few proven methods to improve brain function. Here are a few tips that may help you manage COVID brain fog symptoms:
Can you prevent COVID brain fog?
Today, there are no clear ways to reduce the likelihood of COVID brain fog. A recent study found that patients who were female, had significant respiratory problems and/or were admitted to the ICU were more likely to report chronic post-COVID brain fog.
As with any illness, resting while you’re sick and getting plenty of sleep is important to prevent lasting effects. Kenetik plant-based ketone drinks can also be a great addition to your preventative routine! Not only is Kenetik delicious, but it delivers important electrolytes and 10g of bioidentical ketones per serving. Kenetik ketones can help keep your brain healthy and improve long COVID symptoms like brain fog.
