A scientific study conducted by American and British researchers and published in the journal "Clinical Medicine" found that severe COVID-19 infection can lead to a significant decrease in IQ among individuals after recovering from the illness. In the study, researchers tested the IQ of 81,337 people across the United Kingdom between January and December of last year.
Among those surveyed, 13,000 had contracted the coronavirus, and it was found that they experienced a decrease in IQ, having more difficulty focusing on problem-solving and planning compared to those who did not have COVID-19.
Data indicate that survivors of the virus who spent time on a ventilator in the hospital lost the equivalent of seven IQ points. Reports of brain fog in COVID-19 patients have been documented even months after recovery, with some expressing a loss of ability to remember everyday facts or engage in conversations with others.
During the study, researchers asked participants to answer a series of questions to test their cognitive abilities, and statistical analysis was employed to determine the decrease in IQ levels between those infected with COVID-19 and those who were not.
Researchers found that individuals who had contracted COVID-19 had lower cognitive scores than they had before the infection, based on age, gender, occupation, and other factors.
According to the study's authors, these findings are consistent with previous reports indicating long-term COVID-19 symptoms that affect the brain and lead to difficulties in concentration. This follows earlier research conducted by Imperial College London, which showed that COVID-19 could have real chronic cognitive consequences, as reported by the British newspaper Daily Mail.
