"Brain fog", a neurocognitive manifestation of the post-COVID-19 syndrome

Authors

Keywords:

COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, neurocognitive disorders, central nervous system, mental fog, post-COVID-19 syndrome.

Abstract

Introduction: COVID-19, infection caused by SARS-CoV-2, causes damage to different organs and systems, such as the central nervous system. Among the neurological alterations, brain fog is described as a frequent neurocognitive manifestation in post-COVID-19 syndrome, with a negative impact on patients' quality of life. 104 articles published were reviewed from june 2020 to october 2022, in Pubmed, Medline, Lilacs and Cumed databases.
Objective: To update knowledge on the neurocognitive manifestations of brain fog in post-COVID-19 syndrome.
Development: Neurocognitive alterations of mental fog, attention, concentration and memory disorders, associated with other neurological symptoms, such as headache, insomnia, anosmia, ageusia, anxiety, depression, and other persistent symptoms, which characterize post-COVID-19 syndrome, are described. Reference is made to elements of the etiopathogenesis, highlighting the exaggerated systemic immune response, generated by the release of cytokines, aspects to keep in mind for the diagnostic and therapeutic conduct of post-COVID-19 patients.
Conclusions: The neurocognitive symptoms of brain fog are frequent neurological alterations of post-COVID-19 syndrome, they are varied, with a combination of different symptoms in each patient, more frequent in women and in patients who presented severe disease.

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Author Biographies

Sarais Durán Fernández, Hospital Militar Dr. "Joaquín Castillo Duany"

Departamento de Medicina Natural y Tradicional Especialista de 1er grado de Medicina Interna Especialista de 2do grado de MNT MsC en Medicina Natural y Tradicional Profesor asistente

Yasel Polanco Zaldivar, Hospital Militar Dr Joaquin Castillo Duany

Residente de 3er año de Medicina Natural y Tradicional

Lilia Rosa Leyva Duran, Facultad 2 de Medicina de Santiago de Cuba

Estudiante de 5to año de Medicina Alumna ayudante de Terapia Intensiva Vertical

Damaris Manuela Torres Ramos, Hospital Militar Dr Joaquin Castillo Duany

Especialista de 1er grado de MNT MsC en Medicina Natural y Tradicional Jefe del departamento de Medicina Natural y Tradicional

Mayda Rodríguez García, Hospital Militar Dr Joaquin Castillo Duany

Departamento de Medicina Natural y Tradicional Especialista de 1er grado en MNT

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Published

2023-10-09

How to Cite

1.
Durán Fernández S, Polanco Zaldivar Y, Leyva Duran LR, Torres Ramos DM, Rodríguez García M. "Brain fog", a neurocognitive manifestation of the post-COVID-19 syndrome. Rev Cubana Med Milit [Internet]. 2023 Oct. 9 [cited 2025 Jun. 22];52(4):e02302463. Available from: https://revmedmilitar.sld.cu/index.php/mil/article/view/2463

Issue

Vol. 52 No. 4 (2023): October - december

Section

Review Article

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