Long COVID-19: Ongoing Brain Injury and Cognitive Deficits in the Aftermath of Virus Infection

Cognitive symptoms experienced daily were associated with greater levels of depressive symptoms in individuals with post-COVID-19 condition.
Long COVID-19 affects individuals who have had the virus and are experiencing ongoing symptoms such as cognitive deficits, depression, and fatigue.
Markers of brain injury were present in the blood months after COVID-19 infection for those with a complication.
Long COVID-19: Ongoing Brain Injury and Cognitive Deficits in the Aftermath of Virus Infection

Long COVID-19 is a condition that affects individuals who have had the virus and are experiencing ongoing symptoms. Some of these symptoms include cognitive deficits, depression, and fatigue. A recent study published in Nature Communications found that markers of brain injury were present in the blood months after COVID-19 infection, particularly for those with a COVID-19 induced brain complication. This suggests that there may be ongoing inflammation and injury inside the brain itself which may not be detected by blood tests for inflammation. The study also found that cognitive symptoms experienced daily were associated with greater levels of depressive symptoms in individuals with post-COVID-19 condition, as well as at least moderate interference with everyday functioning after including depressive symptoms in regression models (adjusted odds ratio, 1.27). Additionally, a survey conducted by JAMA Network Open found that 56% of those who had post COVID-19 condition reported cognitive symptoms experienced daily and only 27% of those who did not report post COVID-19 condition said they experienced cognitive symptoms as frequently.



Confidence

80%

No Doubts Found At Time Of Publication

Sources

90%

  • Unique Points
    • Some form of brain injury could be behind the symptoms reported by those with long COVID, according to a new study.
    • "Our study shows that markers of brain injury are present in the blood months after COVID-19, and particularly in those who have had a COVID-19-induced brain complication."
    • The consequences of these brain complications associated with COVID-19 can be long lasting.
    • 'Abnormal responses by the body's immune system could be causing the signs of injury they're seeing. If we can find out more about these responses and how they're triggered, new treatments could be developed.
    • COVID-19 plays some role in impacting the nervous system.
    • "The clinical characteristics of our participant cohorts, and the elevation in brain injury markers, provide evidence of both acute and ongoing neurological injury."
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (85%)
    The article discusses the possibility of brain injury being behind the symptoms reported by those with long COVID. The author cites a study that found elevated levels of four brain injury biomarkers in patients infected with COVID-19 and two of these signs persisted into recovery phase. Additionally, Michael from University Liverpool says that ongoing inflammation and injury inside the brain may not be detected by blood tests for inflammation. The article also mentions that some neurological complications associated with COVID-19 have ranged from mild to potentially life-threatening.
    • Some form of brain injury could be behind the symptoms reported by those with long COVID, according to a new study,
    • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
      David Nield has a financial tie to the University of Liverpool as he is an alumnus and may have a personal relationship with Benedict Michael who was involved in the study. Additionally, there are no disclosures regarding any potential conflicts of interest.
      • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication

      80%

      • Unique Points
        • Cognitive symptoms were associated with greater levels of depressive symptoms in individuals with post-COVID-19 condition.
        • >27.1% of those who did not report post-COVID-19 condition also reported at least one cognitive symptom experienced daily.
      • Accuracy
        • Individuals who have had COVID-19 are at four times greater risk of developing chronic fatigue compared with those who did not have COVID.
      • Deception (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Fallacies (85%)
        The article contains several logical fallacies. Firstly, the author uses an appeal to authority by stating that cognitive symptoms are common in post-COVID-19 condition without providing any evidence or explanation for why this is true. Secondly, the author commits a false dilemma by presenting only two options: either individuals with post-COVID-19 condition experience cognitive symptoms daily or they do not report them at all. This oversimplifies the complexity of the issue and ignores other possible factors that may affect an individual's cognitive function. Thirdly, the author uses inflammatory rhetoric by stating that these symptoms represent important targets for assessment and identifying scalable interventions to remediate cognitive dysfunction in post-COVID-19 condition without providing any evidence or explanation for why this is true.
        • The article commits an appeal to authority fallacy when the author states that cognitive symptoms are common in post-COVID-19 condition without providing any evidence or explanation for why this is true. For example, the sentence 'For individuals with post-COVID-19 condition, cognitive symptoms are common'.
        • The article commits a false dilemma fallacy when the author presents only two options: either individuals with post-COVID-19 condition experience cognitive symptoms daily or they do not report them at all. For example, the sentence 'More daily cognitive symptoms were associated with increased odds of at least moderate interference with functioning'.
        • The article uses inflammatory rhetoric when the author states that these symptoms represent important targets for assessment and identifying scalable interventions to remediate cognitive dysfunction in post-COVID-19 condition without providing any evidence or explanation for why this is true. For example, the sentence 'These symptoms represent important targets for assessment and identifying scalable interventions'.
      • Bias (85%)
        The author of the article is Elana Gotkine and she has a history of writing articles that focus on medical conditions. In this article, she reports on a study published in JAMA Network Open which found cognitive symptoms to be common with post-COVID-19 condition. The author uses language such as 'marked association' and 'important targets for assessment', which could be seen as biased towards the idea that these symptoms are significant and require attention. Additionally, the author quotes Dr Abhishek Jaywant from Weill Cornell Medicine who is also involved in the study, but does not provide any context or information about his background or expertise.
        • Dr Abhishek Jaywant from Weill Cornell Medicine is quoted as saying: 'These findings highlight the importance of assessing cognitive function in individuals with post-COVID-19 condition and identifying scalable interventions to improve their functioning.'
          • The authors write: 'In light of their marked association with poorer functioning and quality of life, these symptoms represent important targets for assessment and identifying scalable interventions to remediate cognitive dysfunction in post-COVID-19 condition.'
          • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
            Elana Gotkine has a conflict of interest on the topic of post-COVID-19 condition and cognitive symptoms as she is affiliated with Weill Cornell Medicine which may have financial ties to pharmaceutical companies that produce treatments for COVID-19. Additionally, Elana Gotkine's article was published in JAMA Network Open, a journal owned by the American Medical Association (AMA), which has been criticized for its close ties with the pharmaceutical industry.
            • Elana Gotkine is affiliated with Weill Cornell Medicine, which may have financial ties to pharmaceutical companies that produce treatments for COVID-19.
              • The article was published in JAMA Network Open, a journal owned by the American Medical Association (AMA), which has been criticized for its close ties with the pharmaceutical industry.
              • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                Elana Gotkine has a conflict of interest on the topic of post-COVID-19 condition and cognitive symptoms as she is an author at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City.

                88%

                • Unique Points
                  • Some form of brain injury could be behind the symptoms reported by those with long COVID.
                  • "Our study shows that markers of brain injury are present in the blood months after COVID-19, and particularly in those who have had a COVID-19-induced brain complication."
                  • COVID-19 plays some role in impacting the nervous system.
                  • <56.7% of individuals with post–COVID-19 condition and >27.1% of those who did not report post–COVID-19 condition reported cognitive symptoms experienced daily.
                  • Associations were also seen for cognitive symptoms and at least moderate interference with everyday functioning after including depressive symptoms in regression models (adjusted odds ratio, 1.27).
                • Accuracy
                  • Cognitive symptoms were associated with greater levels of depressive symptoms in individuals with post–COVID-19 condition.
                  • Only 27% with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection who did not develop post–COVID-19 condition said they experienced cognitive symptoms as frequently.
                  • Daily cognitive symptoms were associated with moderate interference with everyday functioning and between cognitive symptoms and lower odds of full-time employment.
                  • People who have had COVID-19 are at four times greater risk of developing chronic fatigue compared with those who did not have COVID.
                • Deception (100%)
                  None Found At Time Of Publication
                • Fallacies (75%)
                  The article contains two studies that highlight cognitive issues and depression in those with long COVID. The first study found that 57% of people with post–COVID-19 condition experienced symptoms of a cognitive deficit daily at least 2 months following infection, as well as symptoms of depression. This is an example of a dichotomous depiction where the author presents two options: either someone has long COVID and experiences these issues or they do not have long COVID and do not experience these issues. The second study found that people who have had COVID-19 are at four times greater risk of developing chronic fatigue compared with those who did not have COVID. This is an example of a fallacy where the author presents one option as being significantly better than another without providing any context or evidence to support this claim.
                  • The first study found that 57% of people with post–COVID-19 condition experienced symptoms of a cognitive deficit daily at least 2 months following infection, as well as symptoms of depression. This is an example of a dichotomous depiction where the author presents two options: either someone has long COVID and experiences these issues or they do not have long COVID and do not experience these issues.
                  • The second study found that people who have had COVID-19 are at four times greater risk of developing chronic fatigue compared with those who did not have COVID. This is an example of a fallacy where the author presents one option as being significantly better than another without providing any context or evidence to support this claim.
                • Bias (85%)
                  The article contains examples of both cognitive issues and depression in those with long COVID. The first study found that 57% of people with post–COVID-19 condition reported symptoms of a cognitive deficit daily at least 2 months following infection as well as symptoms of depression, while only 27% who did not develop post–COVID-19 condition said they experienced cognitive symptoms. The second study found that people with COVID-19 are at four times greater risk of developing chronic fatigue compared to those without COVID. Additionally, the article mentions that younger age and depression were associated with a greater number of daily symptoms in both studies.
                  • 57% of people with post–COVID-19 condition reported symptoms of a cognitive deficit daily at least 2 months following infection as well as symptoms of depression
                    • people who have had COVID-19 are at four times greater risk of developing chronic fatigue compared to those without COVID
                    • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                      None Found At Time Of Publication
                    • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
                      None Found At Time Of Publication

                    73%

                    • Unique Points
                      • Cognitive symptoms were associated with greater levels of depressive symptoms in individuals with post–COVID-19 condition.
                      • >56.7% of individuals with post-COVID-19 condition and >27.1% of those who did not report post-COVID-19 condition reported cognitive symptoms experienced daily.
                      • Associations were also seen for cognitive symptoms and at least moderate interference with everyday functioning after including depressive symptoms in regression models (adjusted odds ratio, 1.27).
                    • Accuracy
                      • Individuals with post–COVID-19 condition reported greater functional impairment than those without cognitive symptoms.
                      • 'Abnormal responses by the body's immune system could be causing the signs of injury they're seeing. If we can find out more about these responses and how they're triggered, new treatments could be developed.
                    • Deception (30%)
                      The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author does not disclose their sources or provide any evidence to support their claims. Secondly, the title of the article implies that it will be discussing cognitive symptoms specifically related to COVID-19 condition and daily functioning when in fact it only discusses self-reported cognitive symptoms associated with employment status, functional outcomes, and mood.
                      • The author does not disclose their sources or provide any evidence to support their claims.
                      • The title of the article implies that it will be discussing cognitive symptoms specifically related to COVID-19 condition and daily functioning when in fact it only discusses self-reported cognitive symptoms associated with employment status, functional outcomes, and mood.
                    • Fallacies (70%)
                      The article contains several fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by citing a study without providing any context or information about the researchers involved in conducting it. Additionally, the author makes use of inflammatory rhetoric when they describe cognitive symptoms as 'prevalent' and 'often co-occur with depressive symptoms'. This is not supported by evidence presented in the article. The author also uses a dichotomous depiction when describing individuals who did not select one of the other categories listed for race and ethnicity, indicating that they are part of an 'Other' group which could be seen as exclusionary.
                      • The study is cited without providing any context or information about the researchers involved in conducting it. This is an example of an appeal to authority fallacy.
                    • Bias (85%)
                      The article contains examples of religious bias and ideological bias. The author uses the term 'post–COVID-19 condition' which is not a medical diagnosis but rather an umbrella term that encompasses various symptoms associated with COVID-19 infection, including cognitive symptoms. This suggests that the author may be using this term to appeal to religious or ideological beliefs about the severity of COVID-19 and its long-term effects on individuals.
                      • The article mentions 'cognitive symptoms' which are often used in a medical context but also have religious connotations, such as being associated with spiritual enlightenment. This suggests that the author may be using this term to appeal to religious or ideological beliefs about the nature of cognitive symptoms.
                        • The article uses the term 'post–COVID-19 condition' which is not a medical diagnosis but rather an umbrella term that encompasses various symptoms associated with COVID-19 infection, including cognitive symptoms. This suggests that the author may be using this term to appeal to religious or ideological beliefs about the severity of COVID-19 and its long-term effects on individuals.
                        • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                          None Found At Time Of Publication
                        • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
                          None Found At Time Of Publication