A study of more than 110,000 people shows that IQ may decrease if infected with the new coronavirus

It is known that when infected with the new coronavirus, ``brain fog'' occurs, a phenomenon in which thinking becomes cloudy. A new study of 110,000 people has shown that infection with the new coronavirus can lower IQ.

Cognition and Memory after Covid-19 in a Large Community Sample | NEJM
https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMoa2311330

Mounting research shows that COVID-19 leaves its mark on the brain, including with significant drops in IQ scores
https://theconversation.com/mounting-research-shows-that-covid-19-leaves-its-mark-on-the-brain-including-with-significant-drops-in-iq-scores-224216

The effects of the new coronavirus on the brain have been studied since the early days of the pandemic, and in July 2020, a study was reported that ` `Even mild cases of the new coronavirus infection (COVID-19) affect the brain. '' In addition, in December 2020, research results were reported that the new coronavirus invades the brain . Furthermore, with the spread of the new coronavirus, many cases have been reported in which ``when COVID-19 develops, ``brain fog'' continues even after the fever has subsided.'' I did.

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Then, in May 2022, a study was published stating that ``severely ill patients with COVID-19 experience a decline in cognitive ability equivalent to a 10-point reduction in IQ.'' However, this study only had 46 subjects, and the type of subjects was limited to ``severe patients with COVID-19''.

Research shows that severe COVID-19 has a cognitive impact comparable to ``20 years of aging,'' equivalent to a 10-point reduction in IQ - GIGAZINE

Meanwhile, 110,000 people, including 'non-infected people with the new coronavirus,' 'patients who have recovered from mild COVID-19,' 'patients with persistent COVID-19 symptoms,' and 'severe COVID-19 patients,' The results of a study were announced on February 29, 2024, which conducted a cognitive ability test on 2,964 subjects and analyzed the difference in cognitive ability between those infected with the new coronavirus and those who were not infected.

According to the research report, compared to people who are not infected with the new coronavirus, ``patients with mild COVID-19 who have recovered'' have an IQ of 3 points, ``patients with persistent COVID-19 symptoms'' have an IQ of 6 points, and ``patients with long-lasting COVID-19 symptoms'' have an IQ of 6 points. 'Severely ill patients with COVID-19' were found to have a decline in cognitive ability equivalent to 9 IQ points. Additionally, patients who were reinfected with the novel coronavirus after recovering from COVID-19 had an additional 2 IQ point reduction in cognitive decline compared to patients who were not reinfected.

It has also been shown that the decline in cognitive ability is slightly suppressed in patients who have received two or more doses of the new coronavirus vaccine.

In response to the study results, epidemiologist Ziyad Al Ali , who was not involved in the study, said, ``We need to recognize that the new coronavirus is a virus that has serious effects on the brain. Determining the cause of the cognitive impairment caused by coronavirus will require years of collaboration among researchers around the world.'