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Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 37 (from laksa163)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa037.int.ahrefs:8124/' \
  -H 'Content-Type: text/plain' \
  -H 'X-ClickHouse-Database: crawler3' \
  -H 'Authorization: Basic YXBpOg==' \
  -d 'SELECT getAhrefsURLFromUnparsed(src_unparsed) AS found_url, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(download_stamp), 0) AS crawl_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(props_url_first_seen), 0) AS first_indexed_time, download_http_code AS http_code, src_unparsed AS src_unparsed, src_root_hash AS src_root_hash, history_drop_reason AS history_drop_reason, meta_title AS meta_title, meta_descriptions AS meta_descriptions, attrs_boilerpipe_text AS attrs_boilerpipe_text, attrs_markdown AS attrs_markdown, attrs_readable_markdown AS attrs_readable_markdown, meta_canonical AS meta_canonical FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.everydayhealth.com/coronavirus/brain-fog-a-covid-symptom-that-may-linger/\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.everydayhealth.com/coronavirus/brain-fog-a-covid-symptom-that-may-linger/\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/www.everydayhealth.com\/coronavirus\/brain-fog-a-covid-symptom-that-may-linger\/","crawl_time":1775017120,"first_indexed_time":1611680809,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"com,everydayhealth!www,\/coronavirus\/brain-fog-a-covid-symptom-that-may-linger\/ s443","src_root_hash":"6011348653682764837","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"Brain Fog: A COVID-19 Symptom That Can Linger","meta_descriptions":["Some COVID-19 survivors struggle with short-term memory loss, confusion, and concentration issues. Read on for treatments and coping strategies."],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"What Is Brain Fog?\nBrain fog isn’t a technical term, but a shorthand way to describe thinking that is sluggish or fuzzy. Each person exhibits a different combination of issues that can make it hard to get through a normal day, such as confusion, memory loss, difficulty recalling words, slow thinking, trouble focusing, and easy distractibility.\nOne person who experienced this kind of brain fog is Fiona Lowenstein, a New York City–based TV producer and writer, who developed a case of COVID-19 in March 2020 that was severe enough to require hospitalization. The ongoing issues she experienced led Lowenstein to cofound the COVID-19 support group\nBody Politic\n, which now has close to 11,000 members.\nLowenstein describes a range of short-term memory issues that wreaked havoc on daily life: walking to the cabinet to get detergent while doing laundry and then forgetting why, or staring at the computer trying to write, sometimes not recalling the topic, and other times grasping for the proper word.\nOthers on Body Politic similarly complain that the brain fog affects their work, with some struggling to stay productive and others leaving their jobs because they find it impossible to function.\nMany People Seem to Be Affected\nExperts are starting to get a handle on how widespread brain fog is — and the figures are startling.\nIn a\nsurvey published in July 2021 in\nThe Lancet’s EClinical Medicine\n, involving 3,762 people with confirmed or suspected COVID-19, a full 85 percent reported brain fog — which the authors define as poor attention, problem-solving, and decision-making. Only a small portion of those (10 percent) were previously hospitalized with severe COVID-19.\nHospitalization, however, was a key factor in large-scale U.K.\nstudy published in the same issue of\nEClinical Medicine\n.\nWhen researchers analyzed the results of an intelligence test given to over 81,000 people, they found that participants who had recovered from COVID-19 underperformed compared with their peers who’d never had COVID-19. The level of underperformance correlated with severity of illness, with those who had been ventilated in the hospital showing the greatest shortfalls in cognition.\nIn a\nstudy published in July 2021 in the\nJournal of the Neurological Sciences\nthat\nonly\nlooked at people hospitalized for COVID-19, a full half of patients reported impaired thinking and diminished ability to carry out daily activities six months after being discharged.\nWhile it is well known that older adults can be susceptible to cognitive impairment after critical illness, research suggests that, with COVID-19, younger patients are also at risk.\nIn a\nstudy reported in the October 2021 issue of\nJAMA Network Open\n, investigators tested neurological function in a relatively young group of patients (age 38 to 59) several months after being treated for COVID-19 in outpatient, ER, or hospital settings and found that as many as 24 percent continued to experience some sort of cognitive difficulties, including problems with memory, multitasking, processing speed, and focusing.\nWhy the Brain May Fog\nThe reasons for brain fog are not yet clear.\nDr. Spudich believes the most likely cause relates to inflammation created by the body’s immune response rather than to the virus itself. She says an overactive immune response, in which the body starts making self-attacking antibodies (called autoantibodies), is thought to be responsible for other symptoms of COVID-19, including the breathing problems that often land patients in the hospital.\nSpudich points to other viral infections, such as HIV\/AIDS, in which an out-of-control immune system can in some cases inflame the brain, leading to mental lapses.\nIf an immune response is to blame for brain fog, it may be that inflammation in the body becomes so widespread that it reaches the brain. Or it could be that immune cells “are going into the brain to chase a little virus there,” Spudich says, noting that all this is currently conjecture.\nThere is some research to back up the theory, however. A\nstudy published in the March 2021 issue of the journal\nBrain, Behavior, and Immunity\nfound autoantibodies in the cerebrospinal fluid (the clear liquid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord) of COVID-19 patients with neurological symptoms.\nOf course, it’s possible the virus itself somehow gets into the brain, perhaps by traveling through the top part of the nose or by infecting cells known to cross the blood-brain barrier. But so far, research has not demonstrated this as a major factor.\nIn one study by New York’s Columbia University, \npublished in\nBrain\nin September 2021\n, for example, no evidence of coronavirus RNA or proteins was found in samples of the brain cells of 41 people who had died of COVID-19.\nCognitive Rehab Seems the Best Treatment Right Now\nWhen patients complain of brain fog, Spudich says the first step is a thorough physical exam to rule out other medical causes, such as a stroke or sleep problems, both which can occur as a result of COVID-19.\nPatients may then be referred for cognitive rehabilitation (aka cog rehab).\n“Cognitive rehabilitation is like physical therapy, but it’s for the brain,” explains\nJennifer Wethe, PhD\n, a neuropsychologist who codirects the\nconcussion\nprogram at Mayo Clinic Arizona and is an assistant professor of psychology at the Mayo Clinic School of Medicine in Scottsdale.\nThe first steps are written and oral tests, typically conducted by a neuropsychologist, to identify the specific problem areas. Rehab would then focus on strategies to improve certain functions, like concentration or memory, as well as techniques to compensate for brain fog, Dr. Wethe says.\nFor example, if you’re having issues with memory, a therapist could help you create a reliable system for recording, organizing, and retrieving information. “At a minimum, a memory support system should include a calendar for recording appointments and scheduled activities, a to-do list, and a place for notes, ideally on a smartphone so everything is all in one convenient place,” Wethe says.\nMany times, the problem is not actually memory but “working memory” or concentration, which is essentially the amount of information you are able to process at one time, Wethe notes. Other aftereffects of COVID-19, including headaches, fatigue, pain, and sleep disturbances, can act as additional drains on working memory, she adds.\nWhen concentration is a concern, a therapist will work with you on developing compensation strategies. For example, if your job requires multitasking, such as doing desk work while also answering the phone, Wethe recommends developing a way to mark your place in the current task before you pick up the phone. “This makes it more likely that you will be able to quickly pick up where you left off after attending to the phone call,” she says.\nCognitive rehabilitation has a long track record of success with traumatic brain injuries,\nstrokes\n, and\nconcussion\n, Wethe says. Many different healthcare professionals are trained in this type of therapy, including psychotherapists, speech-language pathologists, physical therapists, neurofeedback practitioners, and occupational therapists.\nWhere to Get Treatment for Brain Fog\nMany hospitals have cognitive rehab programs, even if they’re not specifically geared to long COVID patients. Treatment for brain fog is also available at many long COVID clinics. These centers, which are cropping up at an increasing number of hospitals, include\nMount Sinai Center for Post-COVID Care\n in New York City, \nUT Health Austin Post-COVID-19 Program\n in Austin, Texas, and \nMemorial Primary Care Long Haulers Clinic\n in Hollywood, Florida. You can find a list on the website of the patient support group Survivor Corps.\nCog rehab generally requires one to several sessions a week for a couple of months or more. Treatment for brain trauma and stroke is typically covered by insurance but whether insurers will foot the bill for post-COVID complications is an open question.\nThere is some evidence that playing games like\nCogMed\n,\nLumosity\n, and\nBrain HQ\non your computer or phone may also improve cognition. These can be a great supplement to working with a cognitive rehabilitation therapist or coach, Wethe says.\nBrain Fog Might Clear on Its Own\nDoctors can’t predict how long post-COVID brain fog will persist, but Spudich thinks in many cases the fog may disperse on its own. “We have seen that though many patients have symptoms that linger for months, the severity of the problems that people experience almost invariably declines over time,” she says.\nResearch is underway to track people’s symptoms over time, as well as to identify the biological causes of these brain symptoms, Spudich adds.\nOne point of hope comes from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which has begun an initiative called\nResearching COVID to Enhance Recovery (RECOVER)\n. RECOVER will maintain a large database of information about people in various sates of recovery from COVID-19, as well as fund major studies to better understand long COVID symptoms, including brain fog.\n“As we learn more, we may find therapies we can give to people to help them improve even faster,” says Spudich.","attrs_markdown":"Menu\n\nNewsletters\n\n[Health Conditions](https:\/\/www.everydayhealth.com\/conditions\/)\n\n![Health Conditions](https:\/\/images.everydayhealth.com\/react-component-images\/image-src-placeholder-16x9288625876.png)\n\n![Health Conditions](https:\/\/images.everydayhealth.com\/images\/mega-nav-images-2025\/eh-health-conditions-meganav-1440x810.png?sfvrsn=28aabb68_3)\n\nFind helpful content on common health and medical conditions.\n\n[See All](https:\/\/www.everydayhealth.com\/conditions\/)\n\n[Cancer](https:\/\/www.everydayhealth.com\/cancer\/)[Cardiovascular Diseases](https:\/\/www.everydayhealth.com\/cardiovascular-diseases\/)[Crohn's 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[1Latest News](https:\/\/www.everydayhealth.com\/coronavirus\/all-articles\/?tags=news)\n- [2What Is COVID-19? Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention](https:\/\/www.everydayhealth.com\/infectious-diseases\/covid-19\/)\n- [3What Is Long COVID? Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention](https:\/\/www.everydayhealth.com\/coronavirus\/what-is-long-covid-symptoms-causes-diagnosis-treatment-and-prevention\/)\n- [4What Is a Coronavirus?](https:\/\/www.everydayhealth.com\/infectious-diseases\/coronavirus\/)\n- [5How to Cope With a COVID-19 Cough](https:\/\/www.everydayhealth.com\/coronavirus\/how-to-cope-with-a-covid-19-cough\/)\n- [6How to Beat COVID-19 Fatigue and Get Your Energy Back](https:\/\/www.everydayhealth.com\/coronavirus\/how-to-beat-covid-19-fatigue-and-get-your-energy-back\/)\n\n[SEE MORE](https:\/\/www.everydayhealth.com\/coronavirus\/)\n\n# Brain Fog: A COVID-19 Symptom That May Linger\nSome people with long COVID struggle for weeks or even months with short-term memory loss, concentration issues, and other cognitive symptoms. Neurologists believe “cog rehab” may help.\n\n![Brain Fog: A COVID-19 Symptom That May Linger](https:\/\/images.everydayhealth.com\/images\/infectious-diseases\/coronavirus\/covid-19-and-brain-fog-1440x810.jpg?sfvrsn=45a2c8a0_5)\n\nYaroslav Danylchenko\/Stocksy; Everyday Health\n\nBy\n\n[Meryl Davids Landau](https:\/\/www.everydayhealth.com\/authors\/meryl-davids-landau\/)\n\nUpdated on February 14, 2022\n\nMedically Reviewed\n\nby\n\n[Jason Paul Chua, MD, PhD](https:\/\/www.everydayhealth.com\/authors\/jason-paul-chua\/)\n\nMany people who get [COVID-19](https:\/\/www.everydayhealth.com\/infectious-diseases\/covid-19\/) recover with no lingering aftereffects, but as many as 1 in 3 continue to suffer for weeks or even months with a variety of symptoms, according to a [study published in September 2021 in *PLoS Medicine*](https:\/\/journals.plos.org\/plosmedicine\/article?id=10.1371\/journal.pmed.1003773). This condition, commonly referred to as [long COVID](https:\/\/www.everydayhealth.com\/coronavirus\/what-is-long-covid-symptoms-causes-diagnosis-treatment-and-prevention\/), can debilitate people across the spectrum of illness, including those who initially had a relatively uncomplicated bout of COVID-19.\n\nAs yet, there isn’t enough data on whether the omicron variant, which tends to cause less severe COVID-19 than the delta variant, can have lasting aftereffects. But public health experts feel there may be reason for concern.\n\nOne common and especially troublesome issue with long COVID is cognitive impairment, or brain fog. Other symptoms of long COVID include exhaustion, shortness of breath, headaches, sleep problems, [coughing](https:\/\/www.everydayhealth.com\/coronavirus\/how-to-cope-with-a-covid-19-cough\/), lightheadedness, and [changes in taste and smell](https:\/\/www.everydayhealth.com\/coronavirus\/what-to-do-when-covid-kills-your-sense-of-smell-and-taste\/), [according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)](https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/covid\/long-term-effects\/index.html).\n\nCognitive slowing and mood problems after a person is infected with the coronavirus seem to be much more prevalent than with most other viral infections, says [Serena Spudich, MD](https:\/\/www.yalemedicine.org\/specialists\/serena_spudich), a professor of neurology at the Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut, who has treated patients at Yale’s [neuroCOVID-19 clinic](https:\/\/yaledailynews.com\/blog\/2020\/10\/22\/ynhh-opens-neurocovid-clinic-to-treat-long-term-neurological-symptoms-associated-with-covid-19\/).\n\n[![Testing for COVID-19: The What, Where, When, Why, and How](https:\/\/images.everydayhealth.com\/images\/site-images\/most-recent-default-img.jpg) ![Testing for COVID-19: The What, Where, When, Why, and How](https:\/\/images.everydayhealth.com\/images\/infectious-diseases\/coronavirus\/cs-your-covid-19-testing-guide-1440x810.jpg?sfvrsn=39fe580b_5)](https:\/\/education.everydayhealth.com\/for-patients\/testing-for-covid-19-the-what-where-when-why-and-how\/)\n\nProvided by PRIME\n\n### [Testing for COVID-19: The What, Where, When, Why, and How](https:\/\/education.everydayhealth.com\/for-patients\/testing-for-covid-19-the-what-where-when-why-and-how\/)\nHere is your complete guide to all of the different types of COVID-19 tests.…[Learn More](https:\/\/education.everydayhealth.com\/for-patients\/testing-for-covid-19-the-what-where-when-why-and-how\/)\n\n## **What Is Brain Fog?**\nBrain fog isn’t a technical term, but a shorthand way to describe thinking that is sluggish or fuzzy. Each person exhibits a different combination of issues that can make it hard to get through a normal day, such as confusion, memory loss, difficulty recalling words, slow thinking, trouble focusing, and easy distractibility.\n\nOne person who experienced this kind of brain fog is Fiona Lowenstein, a New York City–based TV producer and writer, who developed a case of COVID-19 in March 2020 that was severe enough to require hospitalization. The ongoing issues she experienced led Lowenstein to cofound the COVID-19 support group [Body Politic](https:\/\/www.wearebodypolitic.com\/covid19), which now has close to 11,000 members.\n\nLowenstein describes a range of short-term memory issues that wreaked havoc on daily life: walking to the cabinet to get detergent while doing laundry and then forgetting why, or staring at the computer trying to write, sometimes not recalling the topic, and other times grasping for the proper word.\n\nOthers on Body Politic similarly complain that the brain fog affects their work, with some struggling to stay productive and others leaving their jobs because they find it impossible to function.\n\n## **Many People Seem to Be Affected**\nExperts are starting to get a handle on how widespread brain fog is — and the figures are startling.\n\nIn a [survey published in July 2021 in *The Lancet’s EClinical Medicine*](https:\/\/www.thelancet.com\/journals\/eclinm\/article\/PIIS2589-5370\\(21\\)00299-6\/fulltext), involving 3,762 people with confirmed or suspected COVID-19, a full 85 percent reported brain fog — which the authors define as poor attention, problem-solving, and decision-making. Only a small portion of those (10 percent) were previously hospitalized with severe COVID-19.\n\nHospitalization, however, was a key factor in large-scale U.K. [study published in the same issue of *EClinical Medicine*](https:\/\/www.thelancet.com\/journals\/eclinm\/article\/PIIS2589-5370\\(21\\)00324-2\/fulltext).\n\nWhen researchers analyzed the results of an intelligence test given to over 81,000 people, they found that participants who had recovered from COVID-19 underperformed compared with their peers who’d never had COVID-19. The level of underperformance correlated with severity of illness, with those who had been ventilated in the hospital showing the greatest shortfalls in cognition.\n\nIn a [study published in July 2021 in the *Journal of the Neurological Sciences*](https:\/\/www.jns-journal.com\/article\/S0022-510X\\(21\\)00180-5\/fulltext) that *only* looked at people hospitalized for COVID-19, a full half of patients reported impaired thinking and diminished ability to carry out daily activities six months after being discharged.\n\nWhile it is well known that older adults can be susceptible to cognitive impairment after critical illness, research suggests that, with COVID-19, younger patients are also at risk.\n\nIn a [study reported in the October 2021 issue of *JAMA Network Open*](https:\/\/jamanetwork.com\/journals\/jamanetworkopen\/fullarticle\/2785388?utm_source=For_The_Media&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=ftm_links&utm_term=102221), investigators tested neurological function in a relatively young group of patients (age 38 to 59) several months after being treated for COVID-19 in outpatient, ER, or hospital settings and found that as many as 24 percent continued to experience some sort of cognitive difficulties, including problems with memory, multitasking, processing speed, and focusing.\n\n## **Why the Brain May Fog**\nThe reasons for brain fog are not yet clear.\n\nDr. Spudich believes the most likely cause relates to inflammation created by the body’s immune response rather than to the virus itself. She says an overactive immune response, in which the body starts making self-attacking antibodies (called autoantibodies), is thought to be responsible for other symptoms of COVID-19, including the breathing problems that often land patients in the hospital.\n\nSpudich points to other viral infections, such as HIV\/AIDS, in which an out-of-control immune system can in some cases inflame the brain, leading to mental lapses.\n\nIf an immune response is to blame for brain fog, it may be that inflammation in the body becomes so widespread that it reaches the brain. Or it could be that immune cells “are going into the brain to chase a little virus there,” Spudich says, noting that all this is currently conjecture.\n\nThere is some research to back up the theory, however. A [study published in the March 2021 issue of the journal *Brain, Behavior, and Immunity*](https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC7834471\/) found autoantibodies in the cerebrospinal fluid (the clear liquid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord) of COVID-19 patients with neurological symptoms.\n\nOf course, it’s possible the virus itself somehow gets into the brain, perhaps by traveling through the top part of the nose or by infecting cells known to cross the blood-brain barrier. But so far, research has not demonstrated this as a major factor.\n\nIn one study by New York’s Columbia University, [published in *Brain* in September 2021](https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/brain\/article\/144\/9\/2696\/6226391), for example, no evidence of coronavirus RNA or proteins was found in samples of the brain cells of 41 people who had died of COVID-19.\n\n## **Cognitive Rehab Seems the Best Treatment Right Now**\nWhen patients complain of brain fog, Spudich says the first step is a thorough physical exam to rule out other medical causes, such as a stroke or sleep problems, both which can occur as a result of COVID-19.\n\nPatients may then be referred for cognitive rehabilitation (aka cog rehab).\n\n“Cognitive rehabilitation is like physical therapy, but it’s for the brain,” explains [Jennifer Wethe, PhD](https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/biographies\/wethe-jennifer-v-ph-d\/bio-20399428), a neuropsychologist who codirects the [concussion](https:\/\/www.everydayhealth.com\/concussion\/guide\/) program at Mayo Clinic Arizona and is an assistant professor of psychology at the Mayo Clinic School of Medicine in Scottsdale.\n\nThe first steps are written and oral tests, typically conducted by a neuropsychologist, to identify the specific problem areas. Rehab would then focus on strategies to improve certain functions, like concentration or memory, as well as techniques to compensate for brain fog, Dr. Wethe says.\n\nFor example, if you’re having issues with memory, a therapist could help you create a reliable system for recording, organizing, and retrieving information. “At a minimum, a memory support system should include a calendar for recording appointments and scheduled activities, a to-do list, and a place for notes, ideally on a smartphone so everything is all in one convenient place,” Wethe says.\n\nMany times, the problem is not actually memory but “working memory” or concentration, which is essentially the amount of information you are able to process at one time, Wethe notes. Other aftereffects of COVID-19, including headaches, fatigue, pain, and sleep disturbances, can act as additional drains on working memory, she adds.\n\nWhen concentration is a concern, a therapist will work with you on developing compensation strategies. For example, if your job requires multitasking, such as doing desk work while also answering the phone, Wethe recommends developing a way to mark your place in the current task before you pick up the phone. “This makes it more likely that you will be able to quickly pick up where you left off after attending to the phone call,” she says.\n\nCognitive rehabilitation has a long track record of success with traumatic brain injuries, [strokes](https:\/\/www.everydayhealth.com\/stroke\/guide\/), and [concussion](https:\/\/www.everydayhealth.com\/concussion\/guide\/), Wethe says. Many different healthcare professionals are trained in this type of therapy, including psychotherapists, speech-language pathologists, physical therapists, neurofeedback practitioners, and occupational therapists.\n\n## **Where to Get Treatment for Brain Fog**\nMany hospitals have cognitive rehab programs, even if they’re not specifically geared to long COVID patients. Treatment for brain fog is also available at many long COVID clinics. These centers, which are cropping up at an increasing number of hospitals, include [Mount Sinai Center for Post-COVID Care](https:\/\/www.mountsinai.org\/about\/covid19\/center-post-covid-care) in New York City, [UT Health Austin Post-COVID-19 Program](https:\/\/uthealthaustin.org\/clinics\/services\/post-covid-19-program) in Austin, Texas, and [Memorial Primary Care Long Haulers Clinic](https:\/\/www.mhs.net\/coronavirus-disease) in Hollywood, Florida. You can find a list on the website of the patient support group Survivor Corps.\n\nCog rehab generally requires one to several sessions a week for a couple of months or more. Treatment for brain trauma and stroke is typically covered by insurance but whether insurers will foot the bill for post-COVID complications is an open question.\n\nThere is some evidence that playing games like [CogMed](https:\/\/www.cogmed.com\/), [Lumosity](https:\/\/www.lumosity.com\/en\/?gclid=Cj0KCQiA5bz-BRD-ARIsABjT4njuDvImbi7LiLoInAVTNUFwje7-aBQzZGpLeygNp-zkMFvXCLfT_hwaAj8BEALw_wcB), and [Brain HQ](https:\/\/www.brainhq.com\/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=offer&utm_term=30bb&utm_content=46467711%252525252525252B403537598567&gclid=Cj0KCQiA5bz-BRD-ARIsABjT4ngSGZB-24gQBw6YQOAAAvBn7p5I_qb3znyLVcQ6S6yOOSCaDcGSr3oaAr8bEALw_wcB&v4=true&fr=y) on your computer or phone may also improve cognition. These can be a great supplement to working with a cognitive rehabilitation therapist or coach, Wethe says.\n\n## **Brain Fog Might Clear on Its Own**\nDoctors can’t predict how long post-COVID brain fog will persist, but Spudich thinks in many cases the fog may disperse on its own. “We have seen that though many patients have symptoms that linger for months, the severity of the problems that people experience almost invariably declines over time,” she says.\n\nResearch is underway to track people’s symptoms over time, as well as to identify the biological causes of these brain symptoms, Spudich adds.\n\nOne point of hope comes from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which has begun an initiative called [Researching COVID to Enhance Recovery (RECOVER)](https:\/\/recovercovid.org\/). RECOVER will maintain a large database of information about people in various sates of recovery from COVID-19, as well as fund major studies to better understand long COVID symptoms, including brain fog.\n\n“As we learn more, we may find therapies we can give to people to help them improve even faster,” says Spudich.\n\nMeet Our Experts\n\n[See Our Editorial Policy](https:\/\/www.everydayhealth.com\/editorial-policies\/)\n\n[Meet Our Health Expert Network](https:\/\/www.everydayhealth.com\/health-expert-network\/)\n\n![jason-paul-chua-bio](https:\/\/images.everydayhealth.com\/images\/site-images\/most-recent-default-img.jpg?w=120)\n\n![jason-paul-chua-bio](https:\/\/images.everydayhealth.com\/images\/healthy-living\/jason-paul-chua-bio.jpeg?sfvrsn=2e38e094_1)\n\n#### Jason Paul Chua, MD, PhD\n##### Medical Reviewer\n[Castle Connolly Top Doctor](https:\/\/www.everydayhealth.com\/mra\/castle-connolly-top-doctors\/)\n\nJason Chua, MD, PhD, is an assistant professor in the Department of Neurology and Division of Movement Disorders at [Johns Hopkins School of Medicine](https:\/\/profiles.hopkinsmedicine.org\/provider\/jason-paul-carreon-chua\/2703635). He received his training at the University of Michigan, where he obtained medical and graduate degrees, then completed a residency in neurology and a combined clinical\/research fellowship in movement disorders and neurodegeneration.\n\nDr. Chua’s primary research interests are in neurodegenerative disease, with a special focus on the cellular housekeeping pathway of autophagy and its impact on disease development in diseases such as Parkinson disease. His work has been supported by multiple research training and career development grants from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and the American Academy of Neurology. He is the primary or coauthor of 14 peer-reviewed scientific publications and two peer-reviewed online learning modules from the American Academy of Neurology. He is also a contributing author to The Little Black Book of Neurology by Osama Zaldat, MD and Alan Lerner, MD, and has peer reviewed for the scientific journals Autophagy, eLife, and Neurobiology of Disease.\n\n[See full bio](https:\/\/www.everydayhealth.com\/authors\/jason-paul-chua\/)\n\n![Meryl Davids Landau](https:\/\/images.everydayhealth.com\/images\/site-images\/most-recent-default-img.jpg?w=120)\n\n![Meryl Davids Landau](https:\/\/images.everydayhealth.com\/images\/meryl_davids_landau.jpg?sfvrsn=5cff6419_1)\n\n#### Meryl Davids Landau\n##### Author\nMeryl Davids Landau is an award-winning health and science writer and a women's fiction author. Her latest novel is *Warrior Won*, in which a woman facing serious life challenges must learn to use all of her mindfulness and meditation skills. Meryl's articles have appeared in numerous publications, including *National Geographic*, the *Washington Post*, *The New York Times*, *Preventio**n*, *Oprah Magazine*, *Consumer Reports*, AARP, and of course many pieces for Everyday Health.\n\n[See full bio](https:\/\/www.everydayhealth.com\/authors\/meryl-davids-landau\/)\n\n[See Our Editorial Policy](https:\/\/www.everydayhealth.com\/editorial-policies\/)\n\n[Meet Our Health Expert Network](https:\/\/www.everydayhealth.com\/health-expert-network\/)\n\n![Daily Health News](https:\/\/images.everydayhealth.com\/images\/site-images\/most-recent-default-img.jpg)\n\n![Daily Health News](https:\/\/images.everydayhealth.com\/images\/newsletter-signup\/nl-daily-health-news-1920x1080.jpg?sfvrsn=6b3f5310_2)\n\nSign up for our Daily Health News Newsletter\\!\n\nRELATED ARTICLES\n\n[See all in Coronavirus](https:\/\/www.everydayhealth.com\/coronavirus\/?view=all \"See all in Coronavirus\")\n\n[Where to Get an Updated COVID Shot for 2025–2026](https:\/\/www.everydayhealth.com\/infectious-diseases\/where-to-get-an-updated-covid-shot-for-2025-2026\/)\n\n![covid vaccine vial and syringe](https:\/\/images.everydayhealth.com\/images\/site-images\/most-recent-default-img.jpg?w=172)\n\nCoronavirusWhere to Get an Updated COVID Shot for 2025–2026\n\nPublished on Sep 15, 2025\n\n[Loss of Taste and Smell From COVID-19, and How to Get Them Back](https:\/\/www.everydayhealth.com\/coronavirus\/what-to-do-when-covid-kills-your-sense-of-smell-and-taste\/)\n\n![womans nose and mouth Xs colors abstract photo illustration](https:\/\/images.everydayhealth.com\/images\/site-images\/most-recent-default-img.jpg?w=172)\n\nCoronavirusLoss of Taste and Smell From COVID-19, and How to Get Them Back\n\nMedically Reviewed by Jessica Lee, MD \\| Mar 10, 2025\n\n[Does Migraine Cause Memory Loss? 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All rights reserved. Everyday Health is among the federally registered trademarks of Everyday Health, Inc. and may not be used by third parties without explicit permission.All information on the Everyday Health website is for informational purposes only, and is not intended to be used for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. For more details, see Everyday Health's [Terms of Use](https:\/\/www.everydayhealth.com\/privacyterms\/#everyday-health-terms-of-use).\n\n[![TRUSTe Verified Privacy](https:\/\/images.everydayhealth.com\/images\/site-images\/most-recent-default-img.jpg)![TRUSTe Verified Privacy](https:\/\/privacy-policy.truste.com\/privacy-seal\/seal?rid=01b0263e-277d-4e52-9ddd-86550128ec1a)Badges](https:\/\/privacy.truste.com\/privacy-seal\/validation?rid=01b0263e-277d-4e52-9ddd-86550128ec1a \"TRUSTe Verified Privacy\")","attrs_readable_markdown":"## **What Is Brain Fog?**\nBrain fog isn’t a technical term, but a shorthand way to describe thinking that is sluggish or fuzzy. Each person exhibits a different combination of issues that can make it hard to get through a normal day, such as confusion, memory loss, difficulty recalling words, slow thinking, trouble focusing, and easy distractibility.\n\nOne person who experienced this kind of brain fog is Fiona Lowenstein, a New York City–based TV producer and writer, who developed a case of COVID-19 in March 2020 that was severe enough to require hospitalization. The ongoing issues she experienced led Lowenstein to cofound the COVID-19 support group [Body Politic](https:\/\/www.wearebodypolitic.com\/covid19), which now has close to 11,000 members.\n\nLowenstein describes a range of short-term memory issues that wreaked havoc on daily life: walking to the cabinet to get detergent while doing laundry and then forgetting why, or staring at the computer trying to write, sometimes not recalling the topic, and other times grasping for the proper word.\n\nOthers on Body Politic similarly complain that the brain fog affects their work, with some struggling to stay productive and others leaving their jobs because they find it impossible to function.\n\n## **Many People Seem to Be Affected**\nExperts are starting to get a handle on how widespread brain fog is — and the figures are startling.\n\nIn a [survey published in July 2021 in *The Lancet’s EClinical Medicine*](https:\/\/www.thelancet.com\/journals\/eclinm\/article\/PIIS2589-5370\\(21\\)00299-6\/fulltext), involving 3,762 people with confirmed or suspected COVID-19, a full 85 percent reported brain fog — which the authors define as poor attention, problem-solving, and decision-making. Only a small portion of those (10 percent) were previously hospitalized with severe COVID-19.\n\nHospitalization, however, was a key factor in large-scale U.K. [study published in the same issue of *EClinical Medicine*](https:\/\/www.thelancet.com\/journals\/eclinm\/article\/PIIS2589-5370\\(21\\)00324-2\/fulltext).\n\nWhen researchers analyzed the results of an intelligence test given to over 81,000 people, they found that participants who had recovered from COVID-19 underperformed compared with their peers who’d never had COVID-19. The level of underperformance correlated with severity of illness, with those who had been ventilated in the hospital showing the greatest shortfalls in cognition.\n\nIn a [study published in July 2021 in the *Journal of the Neurological Sciences*](https:\/\/www.jns-journal.com\/article\/S0022-510X\\(21\\)00180-5\/fulltext) that *only* looked at people hospitalized for COVID-19, a full half of patients reported impaired thinking and diminished ability to carry out daily activities six months after being discharged.\n\nWhile it is well known that older adults can be susceptible to cognitive impairment after critical illness, research suggests that, with COVID-19, younger patients are also at risk.\n\nIn a [study reported in the October 2021 issue of *JAMA Network Open*](https:\/\/jamanetwork.com\/journals\/jamanetworkopen\/fullarticle\/2785388?utm_source=For_The_Media&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=ftm_links&utm_term=102221), investigators tested neurological function in a relatively young group of patients (age 38 to 59) several months after being treated for COVID-19 in outpatient, ER, or hospital settings and found that as many as 24 percent continued to experience some sort of cognitive difficulties, including problems with memory, multitasking, processing speed, and focusing.\n\n## **Why the Brain May Fog**\nThe reasons for brain fog are not yet clear.\n\nDr. Spudich believes the most likely cause relates to inflammation created by the body’s immune response rather than to the virus itself. She says an overactive immune response, in which the body starts making self-attacking antibodies (called autoantibodies), is thought to be responsible for other symptoms of COVID-19, including the breathing problems that often land patients in the hospital.\n\nSpudich points to other viral infections, such as HIV\/AIDS, in which an out-of-control immune system can in some cases inflame the brain, leading to mental lapses.\n\nIf an immune response is to blame for brain fog, it may be that inflammation in the body becomes so widespread that it reaches the brain. Or it could be that immune cells “are going into the brain to chase a little virus there,” Spudich says, noting that all this is currently conjecture.\n\nThere is some research to back up the theory, however. A [study published in the March 2021 issue of the journal *Brain, Behavior, and Immunity*](https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC7834471\/) found autoantibodies in the cerebrospinal fluid (the clear liquid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord) of COVID-19 patients with neurological symptoms.\n\nOf course, it’s possible the virus itself somehow gets into the brain, perhaps by traveling through the top part of the nose or by infecting cells known to cross the blood-brain barrier. But so far, research has not demonstrated this as a major factor.\n\nIn one study by New York’s Columbia University, [published in *Brain* in September 2021](https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/brain\/article\/144\/9\/2696\/6226391), for example, no evidence of coronavirus RNA or proteins was found in samples of the brain cells of 41 people who had died of COVID-19.\n\n## **Cognitive Rehab Seems the Best Treatment Right Now**\nWhen patients complain of brain fog, Spudich says the first step is a thorough physical exam to rule out other medical causes, such as a stroke or sleep problems, both which can occur as a result of COVID-19.\n\nPatients may then be referred for cognitive rehabilitation (aka cog rehab).\n\n“Cognitive rehabilitation is like physical therapy, but it’s for the brain,” explains [Jennifer Wethe, PhD](https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/biographies\/wethe-jennifer-v-ph-d\/bio-20399428), a neuropsychologist who codirects the [concussion](https:\/\/www.everydayhealth.com\/concussion\/guide\/) program at Mayo Clinic Arizona and is an assistant professor of psychology at the Mayo Clinic School of Medicine in Scottsdale.\n\nThe first steps are written and oral tests, typically conducted by a neuropsychologist, to identify the specific problem areas. Rehab would then focus on strategies to improve certain functions, like concentration or memory, as well as techniques to compensate for brain fog, Dr. Wethe says.\n\nFor example, if you’re having issues with memory, a therapist could help you create a reliable system for recording, organizing, and retrieving information. “At a minimum, a memory support system should include a calendar for recording appointments and scheduled activities, a to-do list, and a place for notes, ideally on a smartphone so everything is all in one convenient place,” Wethe says.\n\nMany times, the problem is not actually memory but “working memory” or concentration, which is essentially the amount of information you are able to process at one time, Wethe notes. Other aftereffects of COVID-19, including headaches, fatigue, pain, and sleep disturbances, can act as additional drains on working memory, she adds.\n\nWhen concentration is a concern, a therapist will work with you on developing compensation strategies. For example, if your job requires multitasking, such as doing desk work while also answering the phone, Wethe recommends developing a way to mark your place in the current task before you pick up the phone. “This makes it more likely that you will be able to quickly pick up where you left off after attending to the phone call,” she says.\n\nCognitive rehabilitation has a long track record of success with traumatic brain injuries, [strokes](https:\/\/www.everydayhealth.com\/stroke\/guide\/), and [concussion](https:\/\/www.everydayhealth.com\/concussion\/guide\/), Wethe says. Many different healthcare professionals are trained in this type of therapy, including psychotherapists, speech-language pathologists, physical therapists, neurofeedback practitioners, and occupational therapists.\n\n## **Where to Get Treatment for Brain Fog**\nMany hospitals have cognitive rehab programs, even if they’re not specifically geared to long COVID patients. Treatment for brain fog is also available at many long COVID clinics. These centers, which are cropping up at an increasing number of hospitals, include [Mount Sinai Center for Post-COVID Care](https:\/\/www.mountsinai.org\/about\/covid19\/center-post-covid-care) in New York City, [UT Health Austin Post-COVID-19 Program](https:\/\/uthealthaustin.org\/clinics\/services\/post-covid-19-program) in Austin, Texas, and [Memorial Primary Care Long Haulers Clinic](https:\/\/www.mhs.net\/coronavirus-disease) in Hollywood, Florida. You can find a list on the website of the patient support group Survivor Corps.\n\nCog rehab generally requires one to several sessions a week for a couple of months or more. Treatment for brain trauma and stroke is typically covered by insurance but whether insurers will foot the bill for post-COVID complications is an open question.\n\nThere is some evidence that playing games like [CogMed](https:\/\/www.cogmed.com\/), [Lumosity](https:\/\/www.lumosity.com\/en\/?gclid=Cj0KCQiA5bz-BRD-ARIsABjT4njuDvImbi7LiLoInAVTNUFwje7-aBQzZGpLeygNp-zkMFvXCLfT_hwaAj8BEALw_wcB), and [Brain HQ](https:\/\/www.brainhq.com\/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=offer&utm_term=30bb&utm_content=46467711%252525252525252B403537598567&gclid=Cj0KCQiA5bz-BRD-ARIsABjT4ngSGZB-24gQBw6YQOAAAvBn7p5I_qb3znyLVcQ6S6yOOSCaDcGSr3oaAr8bEALw_wcB&v4=true&fr=y) on your computer or phone may also improve cognition. These can be a great supplement to working with a cognitive rehabilitation therapist or coach, Wethe says.\n\n## **Brain Fog Might Clear on Its Own**\nDoctors can’t predict how long post-COVID brain fog will persist, but Spudich thinks in many cases the fog may disperse on its own. “We have seen that though many patients have symptoms that linger for months, the severity of the problems that people experience almost invariably declines over time,” she says.\n\nResearch is underway to track people’s symptoms over time, as well as to identify the biological causes of these brain symptoms, Spudich adds.\n\nOne point of hope comes from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which has begun an initiative called [Researching COVID to Enhance Recovery (RECOVER)](https:\/\/recovercovid.org\/). RECOVER will maintain a large database of information about people in various sates of recovery from COVID-19, as well as fund major studies to better understand long COVID symptoms, including brain fog.\n\n“As we learn more, we may find therapies we can give to people to help them improve even faster,” says Spudich.","meta_canonical":null}

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Property	Value
URL	https://www.everydayhealth.com/coronavirus/brain-fog-a-covid-symptom-that-may-linger/
Last Crawled	2026-04-01 04:18:40 (20 days ago)
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Meta Title	Brain Fog: A COVID-19 Symptom That Can Linger
Meta Description	Some COVID-19 survivors struggle with short-term memory loss, confusion, and concentration issues. Read on for treatments and coping strategies.
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Boilerpipe Text	What Is Brain Fog? Brain fog isn’t a technical term, but a shorthand way to describe thinking that is sluggish or fuzzy. Each person exhibits a different combination of issues that can make it hard to get through a normal day, such as confusion, memory loss, difficulty recalling words, slow thinking, trouble focusing, and easy distractibility. One person who experienced this kind of brain fog is Fiona Lowenstein, a New York City–based TV producer and writer, who developed a case of COVID-19 in March 2020 that was severe enough to require hospitalization. The ongoing issues she experienced led Lowenstein to cofound the COVID-19 support group Body Politic , which now has close to 11,000 members. Lowenstein describes a range of short-term memory issues that wreaked havoc on daily life: walking to the cabinet to get detergent while doing laundry and then forgetting why, or staring at the computer trying to write, sometimes not recalling the topic, and other times grasping for the proper word. Others on Body Politic similarly complain that the brain fog affects their work, with some struggling to stay productive and others leaving their jobs because they find it impossible to function. Many People Seem to Be Affected Experts are starting to get a handle on how widespread brain fog is — and the figures are startling. In a survey published in July 2021 in The Lancet’s EClinical Medicine , involving 3,762 people with confirmed or suspected COVID-19, a full 85 percent reported brain fog — which the authors define as poor attention, problem-solving, and decision-making. Only a small portion of those (10 percent) were previously hospitalized with severe COVID-19. Hospitalization, however, was a key factor in large-scale U.K. study published in the same issue of EClinical Medicine . When researchers analyzed the results of an intelligence test given to over 81,000 people, they found that participants who had recovered from COVID-19 underperformed compared with their peers who’d never had COVID-19. The level of underperformance correlated with severity of illness, with those who had been ventilated in the hospital showing the greatest shortfalls in cognition. In a study published in July 2021 in the Journal of the Neurological Sciences that only looked at people hospitalized for COVID-19, a full half of patients reported impaired thinking and diminished ability to carry out daily activities six months after being discharged. While it is well known that older adults can be susceptible to cognitive impairment after critical illness, research suggests that, with COVID-19, younger patients are also at risk. In a study reported in the October 2021 issue of JAMA Network Open , investigators tested neurological function in a relatively young group of patients (age 38 to 59) several months after being treated for COVID-19 in outpatient, ER, or hospital settings and found that as many as 24 percent continued to experience some sort of cognitive difficulties, including problems with memory, multitasking, processing speed, and focusing. Why the Brain May Fog The reasons for brain fog are not yet clear. Dr. Spudich believes the most likely cause relates to inflammation created by the body’s immune response rather than to the virus itself. She says an overactive immune response, in which the body starts making self-attacking antibodies (called autoantibodies), is thought to be responsible for other symptoms of COVID-19, including the breathing problems that often land patients in the hospital. Spudich points to other viral infections, such as HIV/AIDS, in which an out-of-control immune system can in some cases inflame the brain, leading to mental lapses. If an immune response is to blame for brain fog, it may be that inflammation in the body becomes so widespread that it reaches the brain. Or it could be that immune cells “are going into the brain to chase a little virus there,” Spudich says, noting that all this is currently conjecture. There is some research to back up the theory, however. A study published in the March 2021 issue of the journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity found autoantibodies in the cerebrospinal fluid (the clear liquid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord) of COVID-19 patients with neurological symptoms. Of course, it’s possible the virus itself somehow gets into the brain, perhaps by traveling through the top part of the nose or by infecting cells known to cross the blood-brain barrier. But so far, research has not demonstrated this as a major factor. In one study by New York’s Columbia University, published in Brain in September 2021 , for example, no evidence of coronavirus RNA or proteins was found in samples of the brain cells of 41 people who had died of COVID-19. Cognitive Rehab Seems the Best Treatment Right Now When patients complain of brain fog, Spudich says the first step is a thorough physical exam to rule out other medical causes, such as a stroke or sleep problems, both which can occur as a result of COVID-19. Patients may then be referred for cognitive rehabilitation (aka cog rehab). “Cognitive rehabilitation is like physical therapy, but it’s for the brain,” explains Jennifer Wethe, PhD , a neuropsychologist who codirects the concussion program at Mayo Clinic Arizona and is an assistant professor of psychology at the Mayo Clinic School of Medicine in Scottsdale. The first steps are written and oral tests, typically conducted by a neuropsychologist, to identify the specific problem areas. Rehab would then focus on strategies to improve certain functions, like concentration or memory, as well as techniques to compensate for brain fog, Dr. Wethe says. For example, if you’re having issues with memory, a therapist could help you create a reliable system for recording, organizing, and retrieving information. “At a minimum, a memory support system should include a calendar for recording appointments and scheduled activities, a to-do list, and a place for notes, ideally on a smartphone so everything is all in one convenient place,” Wethe says. Many times, the problem is not actually memory but “working memory” or concentration, which is essentially the amount of information you are able to process at one time, Wethe notes. Other aftereffects of COVID-19, including headaches, fatigue, pain, and sleep disturbances, can act as additional drains on working memory, she adds. When concentration is a concern, a therapist will work with you on developing compensation strategies. For example, if your job requires multitasking, such as doing desk work while also answering the phone, Wethe recommends developing a way to mark your place in the current task before you pick up the phone. “This makes it more likely that you will be able to quickly pick up where you left off after attending to the phone call,” she says. Cognitive rehabilitation has a long track record of success with traumatic brain injuries, strokes , and concussion , Wethe says. Many different healthcare professionals are trained in this type of therapy, including psychotherapists, speech-language pathologists, physical therapists, neurofeedback practitioners, and occupational therapists. Where to Get Treatment for Brain Fog Many hospitals have cognitive rehab programs, even if they’re not specifically geared to long COVID patients. Treatment for brain fog is also available at many long COVID clinics. These centers, which are cropping up at an increasing number of hospitals, include Mount Sinai Center for Post-COVID Care in New York City, UT Health Austin Post-COVID-19 Program in Austin, Texas, and Memorial Primary Care Long Haulers Clinic in Hollywood, Florida. You can find a list on the website of the patient support group Survivor Corps. Cog rehab generally requires one to several sessions a week for a couple of months or more. Treatment for brain trauma and stroke is typically covered by insurance but whether insurers will foot the bill for post-COVID complications is an open question. There is some evidence that playing games like CogMed , Lumosity , and Brain HQ on your computer or phone may also improve cognition. These can be a great supplement to working with a cognitive rehabilitation therapist or coach, Wethe says. Brain Fog Might Clear on Its Own Doctors can’t predict how long post-COVID brain fog will persist, but Spudich thinks in many cases the fog may disperse on its own. “We have seen that though many patients have symptoms that linger for months, the severity of the problems that people experience almost invariably declines over time,” she says. Research is underway to track people’s symptoms over time, as well as to identify the biological causes of these brain symptoms, Spudich adds. One point of hope comes from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which has begun an initiative called Researching COVID to Enhance Recovery (RECOVER) . RECOVER will maintain a large database of information about people in various sates of recovery from COVID-19, as well as fund major studies to better understand long COVID symptoms, including brain fog. “As we learn more, we may find therapies we can give to people to help them improve even faster,” says Spudich.
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[LEARN MORE](https://www.everydayhealth.com/coronavirus/) - [1Latest News](https://www.everydayhealth.com/coronavirus/all-articles/?tags=news) - [2What Is COVID-19? Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention](https://www.everydayhealth.com/infectious-diseases/covid-19/) - [3What Is Long COVID? Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention](https://www.everydayhealth.com/coronavirus/what-is-long-covid-symptoms-causes-diagnosis-treatment-and-prevention/) - [4What Is a Coronavirus?](https://www.everydayhealth.com/infectious-diseases/coronavirus/) - [5How to Cope With a COVID-19 Cough](https://www.everydayhealth.com/coronavirus/how-to-cope-with-a-covid-19-cough/) - [6How to Beat COVID-19 Fatigue and Get Your Energy Back](https://www.everydayhealth.com/coronavirus/how-to-beat-covid-19-fatigue-and-get-your-energy-back/) [SEE MORE](https://www.everydayhealth.com/coronavirus/) # Brain Fog: A COVID-19 Symptom That May Linger Some people with long COVID struggle for weeks or even months with short-term memory loss, concentration issues, and other cognitive symptoms. Neurologists believe “cog rehab” may help. ![Brain Fog: A COVID-19 Symptom That May Linger](https://images.everydayhealth.com/images/infectious-diseases/coronavirus/covid-19-and-brain-fog-1440x810.jpg?sfvrsn=45a2c8a0_5) Yaroslav Danylchenko/Stocksy; Everyday Health By [Meryl Davids Landau](https://www.everydayhealth.com/authors/meryl-davids-landau/) Updated on February 14, 2022 Medically Reviewed by [Jason Paul Chua, MD, PhD](https://www.everydayhealth.com/authors/jason-paul-chua/) Many people who get [COVID-19](https://www.everydayhealth.com/infectious-diseases/covid-19/) recover with no lingering aftereffects, but as many as 1 in 3 continue to suffer for weeks or even months with a variety of symptoms, according to a [study published in September 2021 in PLoS Medicine](https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1003773). This condition, commonly referred to as [long COVID](https://www.everydayhealth.com/coronavirus/what-is-long-covid-symptoms-causes-diagnosis-treatment-and-prevention/), can debilitate people across the spectrum of illness, including those who initially had a relatively uncomplicated bout of COVID-19. As yet, there isn’t enough data on whether the omicron variant, which tends to cause less severe COVID-19 than the delta variant, can have lasting aftereffects. But public health experts feel there may be reason for concern. One common and especially troublesome issue with long COVID is cognitive impairment, or brain fog. Other symptoms of long COVID include exhaustion, shortness of breath, headaches, sleep problems, [coughing](https://www.everydayhealth.com/coronavirus/how-to-cope-with-a-covid-19-cough/), lightheadedness, and [changes in taste and smell](https://www.everydayhealth.com/coronavirus/what-to-do-when-covid-kills-your-sense-of-smell-and-taste/), [according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)](https://www.cdc.gov/covid/long-term-effects/index.html). Cognitive slowing and mood problems after a person is infected with the coronavirus seem to be much more prevalent than with most other viral infections, says [Serena Spudich, MD](https://www.yalemedicine.org/specialists/serena_spudich), a professor of neurology at the Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut, who has treated patients at Yale’s [neuroCOVID-19 clinic](https://yaledailynews.com/blog/2020/10/22/ynhh-opens-neurocovid-clinic-to-treat-long-term-neurological-symptoms-associated-with-covid-19/). [![Testing for COVID-19: The What, Where, When, Why, and How](https://images.everydayhealth.com/images/site-images/most-recent-default-img.jpg) ![Testing for COVID-19: The What, Where, When, Why, and How](https://images.everydayhealth.com/images/infectious-diseases/coronavirus/cs-your-covid-19-testing-guide-1440x810.jpg?sfvrsn=39fe580b_5)](https://education.everydayhealth.com/for-patients/testing-for-covid-19-the-what-where-when-why-and-how/) Provided by PRIME ### [Testing for COVID-19: The What, Where, When, Why, and How](https://education.everydayhealth.com/for-patients/testing-for-covid-19-the-what-where-when-why-and-how/) Here is your complete guide to all of the different types of COVID-19 tests.…[Learn More](https://education.everydayhealth.com/for-patients/testing-for-covid-19-the-what-where-when-why-and-how/) ## What Is Brain Fog? Brain fog isn’t a technical term, but a shorthand way to describe thinking that is sluggish or fuzzy. Each person exhibits a different combination of issues that can make it hard to get through a normal day, such as confusion, memory loss, difficulty recalling words, slow thinking, trouble focusing, and easy distractibility. One person who experienced this kind of brain fog is Fiona Lowenstein, a New York City–based TV producer and writer, who developed a case of COVID-19 in March 2020 that was severe enough to require hospitalization. The ongoing issues she experienced led Lowenstein to cofound the COVID-19 support group [Body Politic](https://www.wearebodypolitic.com/covid19), which now has close to 11,000 members. Lowenstein describes a range of short-term memory issues that wreaked havoc on daily life: walking to the cabinet to get detergent while doing laundry and then forgetting why, or staring at the computer trying to write, sometimes not recalling the topic, and other times grasping for the proper word. Others on Body Politic similarly complain that the brain fog affects their work, with some struggling to stay productive and others leaving their jobs because they find it impossible to function. ## Many People Seem to Be Affected Experts are starting to get a handle on how widespread brain fog is — and the figures are startling. In a [survey published in July 2021 in The Lancet’s EClinical Medicine](https://www.thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370\(21\)00299-6/fulltext), involving 3,762 people with confirmed or suspected COVID-19, a full 85 percent reported brain fog — which the authors define as poor attention, problem-solving, and decision-making. Only a small portion of those (10 percent) were previously hospitalized with severe COVID-19. Hospitalization, however, was a key factor in large-scale U.K. [study published in the same issue of EClinical Medicine](https://www.thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370\(21\)00324-2/fulltext). When researchers analyzed the results of an intelligence test given to over 81,000 people, they found that participants who had recovered from COVID-19 underperformed compared with their peers who’d never had COVID-19. The level of underperformance correlated with severity of illness, with those who had been ventilated in the hospital showing the greatest shortfalls in cognition. In a [study published in July 2021 in the Journal of the Neurological Sciences](https://www.jns-journal.com/article/S0022-510X\(21\)00180-5/fulltext) that only looked at people hospitalized for COVID-19, a full half of patients reported impaired thinking and diminished ability to carry out daily activities six months after being discharged. While it is well known that older adults can be susceptible to cognitive impairment after critical illness, research suggests that, with COVID-19, younger patients are also at risk. In a [study reported in the October 2021 issue of JAMA Network Open](https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2785388?utm_source=For_The_Media&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=ftm_links&utm_term=102221), investigators tested neurological function in a relatively young group of patients (age 38 to 59) several months after being treated for COVID-19 in outpatient, ER, or hospital settings and found that as many as 24 percent continued to experience some sort of cognitive difficulties, including problems with memory, multitasking, processing speed, and focusing. ## Why the Brain May Fog The reasons for brain fog are not yet clear. Dr. Spudich believes the most likely cause relates to inflammation created by the body’s immune response rather than to the virus itself. She says an overactive immune response, in which the body starts making self-attacking antibodies (called autoantibodies), is thought to be responsible for other symptoms of COVID-19, including the breathing problems that often land patients in the hospital. Spudich points to other viral infections, such as HIV/AIDS, in which an out-of-control immune system can in some cases inflame the brain, leading to mental lapses. If an immune response is to blame for brain fog, it may be that inflammation in the body becomes so widespread that it reaches the brain. Or it could be that immune cells “are going into the brain to chase a little virus there,” Spudich says, noting that all this is currently conjecture. There is some research to back up the theory, however. A [study published in the March 2021 issue of the journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7834471/) found autoantibodies in the cerebrospinal fluid (the clear liquid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord) of COVID-19 patients with neurological symptoms. Of course, it’s possible the virus itself somehow gets into the brain, perhaps by traveling through the top part of the nose or by infecting cells known to cross the blood-brain barrier. But so far, research has not demonstrated this as a major factor. In one study by New York’s Columbia University, [published in Brain in September 2021](https://academic.oup.com/brain/article/144/9/2696/6226391), for example, no evidence of coronavirus RNA or proteins was found in samples of the brain cells of 41 people who had died of COVID-19. ## Cognitive Rehab Seems the Best Treatment Right Now When patients complain of brain fog, Spudich says the first step is a thorough physical exam to rule out other medical causes, such as a stroke or sleep problems, both which can occur as a result of COVID-19. Patients may then be referred for cognitive rehabilitation (aka cog rehab). “Cognitive rehabilitation is like physical therapy, but it’s for the brain,” explains [Jennifer Wethe, PhD](https://www.mayoclinic.org/biographies/wethe-jennifer-v-ph-d/bio-20399428), a neuropsychologist who codirects the [concussion](https://www.everydayhealth.com/concussion/guide/) program at Mayo Clinic Arizona and is an assistant professor of psychology at the Mayo Clinic School of Medicine in Scottsdale. The first steps are written and oral tests, typically conducted by a neuropsychologist, to identify the specific problem areas. Rehab would then focus on strategies to improve certain functions, like concentration or memory, as well as techniques to compensate for brain fog, Dr. Wethe says. For example, if you’re having issues with memory, a therapist could help you create a reliable system for recording, organizing, and retrieving information. “At a minimum, a memory support system should include a calendar for recording appointments and scheduled activities, a to-do list, and a place for notes, ideally on a smartphone so everything is all in one convenient place,” Wethe says. Many times, the problem is not actually memory but “working memory” or concentration, which is essentially the amount of information you are able to process at one time, Wethe notes. Other aftereffects of COVID-19, including headaches, fatigue, pain, and sleep disturbances, can act as additional drains on working memory, she adds. When concentration is a concern, a therapist will work with you on developing compensation strategies. For example, if your job requires multitasking, such as doing desk work while also answering the phone, Wethe recommends developing a way to mark your place in the current task before you pick up the phone. “This makes it more likely that you will be able to quickly pick up where you left off after attending to the phone call,” she says. Cognitive rehabilitation has a long track record of success with traumatic brain injuries, [strokes](https://www.everydayhealth.com/stroke/guide/), and [concussion](https://www.everydayhealth.com/concussion/guide/), Wethe says. Many different healthcare professionals are trained in this type of therapy, including psychotherapists, speech-language pathologists, physical therapists, neurofeedback practitioners, and occupational therapists. ## Where to Get Treatment for Brain Fog Many hospitals have cognitive rehab programs, even if they’re not specifically geared to long COVID patients. Treatment for brain fog is also available at many long COVID clinics. These centers, which are cropping up at an increasing number of hospitals, include [Mount Sinai Center for Post-COVID Care](https://www.mountsinai.org/about/covid19/center-post-covid-care) in New York City, [UT Health Austin Post-COVID-19 Program](https://uthealthaustin.org/clinics/services/post-covid-19-program) in Austin, Texas, and [Memorial Primary Care Long Haulers Clinic](https://www.mhs.net/coronavirus-disease) in Hollywood, Florida. You can find a list on the website of the patient support group Survivor Corps. Cog rehab generally requires one to several sessions a week for a couple of months or more. Treatment for brain trauma and stroke is typically covered by insurance but whether insurers will foot the bill for post-COVID complications is an open question. There is some evidence that playing games like [CogMed](https://www.cogmed.com/), [Lumosity](https://www.lumosity.com/en/?gclid=Cj0KCQiA5bz-BRD-ARIsABjT4njuDvImbi7LiLoInAVTNUFwje7-aBQzZGpLeygNp-zkMFvXCLfT_hwaAj8BEALw_wcB), and [Brain HQ](https://www.brainhq.com/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=offer&utm_term=30bb&utm_content=46467711%252525252525252B403537598567&gclid=Cj0KCQiA5bz-BRD-ARIsABjT4ngSGZB-24gQBw6YQOAAAvBn7p5I_qb3znyLVcQ6S6yOOSCaDcGSr3oaAr8bEALw_wcB&v4=true&fr=y) on your computer or phone may also improve cognition. These can be a great supplement to working with a cognitive rehabilitation therapist or coach, Wethe says. ## Brain Fog Might Clear on Its Own Doctors can’t predict how long post-COVID brain fog will persist, but Spudich thinks in many cases the fog may disperse on its own. “We have seen that though many patients have symptoms that linger for months, the severity of the problems that people experience almost invariably declines over time,” she says. Research is underway to track people’s symptoms over time, as well as to identify the biological causes of these brain symptoms, Spudich adds. One point of hope comes from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which has begun an initiative called [Researching COVID to Enhance Recovery (RECOVER)](https://recovercovid.org/). RECOVER will maintain a large database of information about people in various sates of recovery from COVID-19, as well as fund major studies to better understand long COVID symptoms, including brain fog. “As we learn more, we may find therapies we can give to people to help them improve even faster,” says Spudich. Meet Our Experts [See Our Editorial Policy](https://www.everydayhealth.com/editorial-policies/) [Meet Our Health Expert Network](https://www.everydayhealth.com/health-expert-network/) ![jason-paul-chua-bio](https://images.everydayhealth.com/images/site-images/most-recent-default-img.jpg?w=120) ![jason-paul-chua-bio](https://images.everydayhealth.com/images/healthy-living/jason-paul-chua-bio.jpeg?sfvrsn=2e38e094_1) #### Jason Paul Chua, MD, PhD ##### Medical Reviewer [Castle Connolly Top Doctor](https://www.everydayhealth.com/mra/castle-connolly-top-doctors/) Jason Chua, MD, PhD, is an assistant professor in the Department of Neurology and Division of Movement Disorders at [Johns Hopkins School of Medicine](https://profiles.hopkinsmedicine.org/provider/jason-paul-carreon-chua/2703635). He received his training at the University of Michigan, where he obtained medical and graduate degrees, then completed a residency in neurology and a combined clinical/research fellowship in movement disorders and neurodegeneration. Dr. Chua’s primary research interests are in neurodegenerative disease, with a special focus on the cellular housekeeping pathway of autophagy and its impact on disease development in diseases such as Parkinson disease. His work has been supported by multiple research training and career development grants from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and the American Academy of Neurology. He is the primary or coauthor of 14 peer-reviewed scientific publications and two peer-reviewed online learning modules from the American Academy of Neurology. He is also a contributing author to The Little Black Book of Neurology by Osama Zaldat, MD and Alan Lerner, MD, and has peer reviewed for the scientific journals Autophagy, eLife, and Neurobiology of Disease. [See full bio](https://www.everydayhealth.com/authors/jason-paul-chua/) ![Meryl Davids Landau](https://images.everydayhealth.com/images/site-images/most-recent-default-img.jpg?w=120) ![Meryl Davids Landau](https://images.everydayhealth.com/images/meryl_davids_landau.jpg?sfvrsn=5cff6419_1) #### Meryl Davids Landau ##### Author Meryl Davids Landau is an award-winning health and science writer and a women's fiction author. Her latest novel is Warrior Won, in which a woman facing serious life challenges must learn to use all of her mindfulness and meditation skills. Meryl's articles have appeared in numerous publications, including National Geographic, the Washington Post, The New York Times, Prevention, Oprah Magazine, Consumer Reports, AARP, and of course many pieces for Everyday Health. [See full bio](https://www.everydayhealth.com/authors/meryl-davids-landau/) [See Our Editorial Policy](https://www.everydayhealth.com/editorial-policies/) [Meet Our Health Expert Network](https://www.everydayhealth.com/health-expert-network/) ![Daily Health News](https://images.everydayhealth.com/images/site-images/most-recent-default-img.jpg) ![Daily Health News](https://images.everydayhealth.com/images/newsletter-signup/nl-daily-health-news-1920x1080.jpg?sfvrsn=6b3f5310_2) Sign up for our Daily Health News Newsletter\! 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Readable Markdown	## What Is Brain Fog? Brain fog isn’t a technical term, but a shorthand way to describe thinking that is sluggish or fuzzy. Each person exhibits a different combination of issues that can make it hard to get through a normal day, such as confusion, memory loss, difficulty recalling words, slow thinking, trouble focusing, and easy distractibility. One person who experienced this kind of brain fog is Fiona Lowenstein, a New York City–based TV producer and writer, who developed a case of COVID-19 in March 2020 that was severe enough to require hospitalization. The ongoing issues she experienced led Lowenstein to cofound the COVID-19 support group [Body Politic](https://www.wearebodypolitic.com/covid19), which now has close to 11,000 members. Lowenstein describes a range of short-term memory issues that wreaked havoc on daily life: walking to the cabinet to get detergent while doing laundry and then forgetting why, or staring at the computer trying to write, sometimes not recalling the topic, and other times grasping for the proper word. Others on Body Politic similarly complain that the brain fog affects their work, with some struggling to stay productive and others leaving their jobs because they find it impossible to function. ## Many People Seem to Be Affected Experts are starting to get a handle on how widespread brain fog is — and the figures are startling. In a [survey published in July 2021 in The Lancet’s EClinical Medicine](https://www.thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370\(21\)00299-6/fulltext), involving 3,762 people with confirmed or suspected COVID-19, a full 85 percent reported brain fog — which the authors define as poor attention, problem-solving, and decision-making. Only a small portion of those (10 percent) were previously hospitalized with severe COVID-19. Hospitalization, however, was a key factor in large-scale U.K. [study published in the same issue of EClinical Medicine](https://www.thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370\(21\)00324-2/fulltext). When researchers analyzed the results of an intelligence test given to over 81,000 people, they found that participants who had recovered from COVID-19 underperformed compared with their peers who’d never had COVID-19. The level of underperformance correlated with severity of illness, with those who had been ventilated in the hospital showing the greatest shortfalls in cognition. In a [study published in July 2021 in the Journal of the Neurological Sciences](https://www.jns-journal.com/article/S0022-510X\(21\)00180-5/fulltext) that only looked at people hospitalized for COVID-19, a full half of patients reported impaired thinking and diminished ability to carry out daily activities six months after being discharged. While it is well known that older adults can be susceptible to cognitive impairment after critical illness, research suggests that, with COVID-19, younger patients are also at risk. In a [study reported in the October 2021 issue of JAMA Network Open](https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2785388?utm_source=For_The_Media&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=ftm_links&utm_term=102221), investigators tested neurological function in a relatively young group of patients (age 38 to 59) several months after being treated for COVID-19 in outpatient, ER, or hospital settings and found that as many as 24 percent continued to experience some sort of cognitive difficulties, including problems with memory, multitasking, processing speed, and focusing. ## Why the Brain May Fog The reasons for brain fog are not yet clear. Dr. Spudich believes the most likely cause relates to inflammation created by the body’s immune response rather than to the virus itself. She says an overactive immune response, in which the body starts making self-attacking antibodies (called autoantibodies), is thought to be responsible for other symptoms of COVID-19, including the breathing problems that often land patients in the hospital. Spudich points to other viral infections, such as HIV/AIDS, in which an out-of-control immune system can in some cases inflame the brain, leading to mental lapses. If an immune response is to blame for brain fog, it may be that inflammation in the body becomes so widespread that it reaches the brain. Or it could be that immune cells “are going into the brain to chase a little virus there,” Spudich says, noting that all this is currently conjecture. There is some research to back up the theory, however. A [study published in the March 2021 issue of the journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7834471/) found autoantibodies in the cerebrospinal fluid (the clear liquid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord) of COVID-19 patients with neurological symptoms. Of course, it’s possible the virus itself somehow gets into the brain, perhaps by traveling through the top part of the nose or by infecting cells known to cross the blood-brain barrier. But so far, research has not demonstrated this as a major factor. In one study by New York’s Columbia University, [published in Brain in September 2021](https://academic.oup.com/brain/article/144/9/2696/6226391), for example, no evidence of coronavirus RNA or proteins was found in samples of the brain cells of 41 people who had died of COVID-19. ## Cognitive Rehab Seems the Best Treatment Right Now When patients complain of brain fog, Spudich says the first step is a thorough physical exam to rule out other medical causes, such as a stroke or sleep problems, both which can occur as a result of COVID-19. Patients may then be referred for cognitive rehabilitation (aka cog rehab). “Cognitive rehabilitation is like physical therapy, but it’s for the brain,” explains [Jennifer Wethe, PhD](https://www.mayoclinic.org/biographies/wethe-jennifer-v-ph-d/bio-20399428), a neuropsychologist who codirects the [concussion](https://www.everydayhealth.com/concussion/guide/) program at Mayo Clinic Arizona and is an assistant professor of psychology at the Mayo Clinic School of Medicine in Scottsdale. The first steps are written and oral tests, typically conducted by a neuropsychologist, to identify the specific problem areas. Rehab would then focus on strategies to improve certain functions, like concentration or memory, as well as techniques to compensate for brain fog, Dr. Wethe says. For example, if you’re having issues with memory, a therapist could help you create a reliable system for recording, organizing, and retrieving information. “At a minimum, a memory support system should include a calendar for recording appointments and scheduled activities, a to-do list, and a place for notes, ideally on a smartphone so everything is all in one convenient place,” Wethe says. Many times, the problem is not actually memory but “working memory” or concentration, which is essentially the amount of information you are able to process at one time, Wethe notes. Other aftereffects of COVID-19, including headaches, fatigue, pain, and sleep disturbances, can act as additional drains on working memory, she adds. When concentration is a concern, a therapist will work with you on developing compensation strategies. For example, if your job requires multitasking, such as doing desk work while also answering the phone, Wethe recommends developing a way to mark your place in the current task before you pick up the phone. “This makes it more likely that you will be able to quickly pick up where you left off after attending to the phone call,” she says. Cognitive rehabilitation has a long track record of success with traumatic brain injuries, [strokes](https://www.everydayhealth.com/stroke/guide/), and [concussion](https://www.everydayhealth.com/concussion/guide/), Wethe says. Many different healthcare professionals are trained in this type of therapy, including psychotherapists, speech-language pathologists, physical therapists, neurofeedback practitioners, and occupational therapists. ## Where to Get Treatment for Brain Fog Many hospitals have cognitive rehab programs, even if they’re not specifically geared to long COVID patients. Treatment for brain fog is also available at many long COVID clinics. These centers, which are cropping up at an increasing number of hospitals, include [Mount Sinai Center for Post-COVID Care](https://www.mountsinai.org/about/covid19/center-post-covid-care) in New York City, [UT Health Austin Post-COVID-19 Program](https://uthealthaustin.org/clinics/services/post-covid-19-program) in Austin, Texas, and [Memorial Primary Care Long Haulers Clinic](https://www.mhs.net/coronavirus-disease) in Hollywood, Florida. You can find a list on the website of the patient support group Survivor Corps. Cog rehab generally requires one to several sessions a week for a couple of months or more. Treatment for brain trauma and stroke is typically covered by insurance but whether insurers will foot the bill for post-COVID complications is an open question. There is some evidence that playing games like [CogMed](https://www.cogmed.com/), [Lumosity](https://www.lumosity.com/en/?gclid=Cj0KCQiA5bz-BRD-ARIsABjT4njuDvImbi7LiLoInAVTNUFwje7-aBQzZGpLeygNp-zkMFvXCLfT_hwaAj8BEALw_wcB), and [Brain HQ](https://www.brainhq.com/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=offer&utm_term=30bb&utm_content=46467711%252525252525252B403537598567&gclid=Cj0KCQiA5bz-BRD-ARIsABjT4ngSGZB-24gQBw6YQOAAAvBn7p5I_qb3znyLVcQ6S6yOOSCaDcGSr3oaAr8bEALw_wcB&v4=true&fr=y) on your computer or phone may also improve cognition. These can be a great supplement to working with a cognitive rehabilitation therapist or coach, Wethe says. ## Brain Fog Might Clear on Its Own Doctors can’t predict how long post-COVID brain fog will persist, but Spudich thinks in many cases the fog may disperse on its own. “We have seen that though many patients have symptoms that linger for months, the severity of the problems that people experience almost invariably declines over time,” she says. Research is underway to track people’s symptoms over time, as well as to identify the biological causes of these brain symptoms, Spudich adds. One point of hope comes from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which has begun an initiative called [Researching COVID to Enhance Recovery (RECOVER)](https://recovercovid.org/). RECOVER will maintain a large database of information about people in various sates of recovery from COVID-19, as well as fund major studies to better understand long COVID symptoms, including brain fog. “As we learn more, we may find therapies we can give to people to help them improve even faster,” says Spudich.
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