Bengaluru: Rise in brain fog cases in Covid survivors

BENGALURU: Inability to focus on small tasks and worsening brain fog, making remembering little details a Herculean task, are indications of the effects of "long Covid", as per research papers from around the world.
Many doctors in the city say they are seeing an increase in brain fog - a term used to describe slow or sluggish thinking - among those who were affected by Covid-19.
For instance, Tejas Bafna, a businessman, realised something was wrong when he couldn't recall the names of his closest friends and found it difficult to remember simple words. "It started after I began recovering from Covid-19 this January. My family was shocked that I was being absent-minded and could not recall simple things. I never had this problem before," the 29-year-old Indiranagar resident said.
Dr Haleema Yezdani, a general physician and diabetologist offering free treatment to Covid patients, told STOI 50-60% of her patients have shown symptoms of brain fog. "Most have difficulty recalling things. Even during consultations, it was hard to explain the dos and don'ts as most patients had difficulty comprehending them," Yezdani said.
Saying that the intensity of the problem ranges from mild forgetfulness to severe dementia and difficulty in remembering day-to-day activities, Yezdani said these symptoms last for 3-4 weeks after Covid-19 infection.
Dr Aditya Chowti, senior consultant- internal medicine, Fortis Hospital, Cunningham Road, said 20-25% of his patients who've recovered from Covid-19 are experiencing such symptoms, aside from fatigue, general body ache, lethargy, and loss of concentration.
Doctors advised physical exercise, a daily routine, good sleep, and avoiding alcohol and tobacco products. Yezdani said liberal consumption of multivitamins with added zinc in the recovery phase could also help.