Heidelberg study: COVID-19 causes specific memory problems
A large-scale online study by SRH University Heidelberg shows that COVID-19 disease can cause long-term memory impairment, particularly in the ability to distinguish similar memories. This function is controlled by the hippocampus, a central memory region in the brain. The results were published in the journal Scientific Reports.
The research group led by Prof. Dr. Patric Meyer examined over 1,400 participants aged between 18 and 90 who had either experienced a SARS-CoV-2 infection or were not infected. Digital tests revealed significant deficits in mnemonic discrimination performance in formerly infected individuals, regardless of age, education, stress or depression. Other cognitive abilities, such as general memory or cognitive flexibility, were largely unaffected.
“For the first time in a large sample, our results clearly demonstrate a specific memory impairment following COVID-19 disease that cannot be explained solely by psychological stress or general physical exhaustion,” says Prof. Dr. Patric Meyer, Professor of General and Neurocognitive Psychology at the Heidelberg Campus of SRH University and head of the study.
The scientists suspect that inflammatory reactions in the brain associated with COVID-19 disrupt the formation of new nerve cells in the hippocampus. This could explain the long-lasting cognitive problems in long-COVID. The results could promote the development of targeted rehabilitation measures to better help those affected.
Original Paper:
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