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Medscape
Cognitive symptoms, known as brain fog, are among the most common persistent or new symptoms after COVID-19 in other people who have been hospitalized and those who have not. functioning, difficulty recovering and fluency with words and poor attention. These symptoms, as well as others that start, persist, or recur after the initial illness with COVID-19, are called post-COVID (or long-term) conditions.
Cognitive symptoms are also reported through patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). The effective monitoring equipment used to treat ME/CFS may also be effective in treating long-term COVID. Any pharmaceutical or non-pharmaceutical intervention prescribed to treat long-term COVID deserves to be carried out on a case-by-case basis, taking into account all individual patient factors, such as other comorbid conditions, existing medication regimens, and sociodemographic factors.
Here are five things to know about using ME/CFS symptom management equipment to help fight COVID brain fog:
In a systematic review of 81 studies, about one-fifth of Americans experienced cognitive decline for 12 weeks or more after their COVID-19 diagnosis. This result is similar for hospitalised and non-hospitalised populations. [1] This study also observed that, for some sensitive Americans, fatigue and cognitive decline appeared to persist or even worsen over time compared to other persistent symptoms after COVID-19. [1] In a prospective multicenter longitudinal cohort study of 81 COVID-19 survivors, 25% reported cognitive symptoms after a 1-year follow-up. [2] Using a battery of standardized tests that showed objective cognitive deficits, this study found that 18% of participants had cognitive deficits at one year. The effects of those studies demonstrate that cognitive symptoms are common, persistent, and a real challenge for many other people suffering from long-term COVID.
American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AAPM) Consensus Policy Statement
Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)
Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)
Mini-Cog
Short Status Test
Long-term COVID patients would likely delight in the same symptoms as ME/CFS patients, adding cognitive impairment. [4] Clinicians can draw on the symptom management techniques used in ME/CFS to help inform their prescribed treatment plan for patients with long-term cognitive symptoms with COVID. Doctors would likely use a symptom management technique called activity control, which has been shown to be helpful for other people with ME/CFS. Also known as stimulation, this activity control technique allows the patient to locate individual limits of physical and intellectual activity to alleviate symptom flare-ups. [5] Other strategies to help cognitive symptoms may come with using memory aids, such as planners and calendars, to help others with memory problems. [5]
It is important to remember that all long-term COVID patients are unique and their prescribed treatment plan deserves to take this into account. Clinicians deserve to recognize that each patient’s symptom timeline varies particularly and that the duration of prolonged cognitive COVID-related symptoms does not necessarily dictate management technique. A patient’s individual symptoms and clinical presentation, pre-existing and exacerbated comorbidities of COVID-19, and changes in service and quality of life all warrant consultation with an approach to identification and intervention. [3] Clinicians are encouraged to practice transparency and work hard with patients to set achievable goals for disease control in other people with COVID over the long term. Treatment plans deserve to focus on improving the patient’s quality of life. [4] Consider the barriers to fitness care when prescribing a remedial plan. This can only come with a patient’s financial stability, literacy, social stressors, and access to quality care and support resources. Ensure that redress remedies are equitable and tailored to the individual, especially for others from marginalized communities. [3]
Although some US Food and Drug Administration-approved supplements or nutrients have been used to alleviate the symptoms of COVID-19 by aiding the immune system and reducing inflammation, there is limited evidence to aid their effectiveness. Matrix made after careful attention to the individual points that affect the patient. For other people with ME/CFS who have trouble concentrating, some doctors have prescribed stimulant medications, such as those typically used to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. [4] However, be careful when prescribing stimulants for cognitive symptoms. In other people with ME/CFS, stimulants can help improve concentration, but they can also lead to the push-and-collapse cycle and worsen symptoms. Cycles of pushing and collapsing are characterized when a patient experiences symptom relief, then pushes to do more than they regularly do, which then leads to a crash (overdoing it, falling in love, resting, starting to feel a little better, etc. ) do too much again). [5] Because this experience is also reported by other people with prolonged COVID, it is recommended to counsel your patient to establish and perceive their limits to avoid falling into this cycle.
Policy Statement on Multidisciplinary Collaborative Consensus
CDC: myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS)
CDC: COVID or post-COVID conditions
CDC: Post-COVID Conditions: Information for Healthcare Providers
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Physician, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GeorgiaDisclosure: Jennifer R. Cope, MD, MPH, disclosed any applicable monetary relationships.
Member of the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GeorgiaDisclosure: Ireland Ingram, MA, disclosed any applicable monetary relationships.
Health Scientist, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GeorgiaDisclosure: Brittney Romanson, MPH, disclosed any applicable monetary relationships.
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