How COVID Can Impact Brain Function Especially in Seniors

While some believe the COVID-19 pandemic may be waning, its effects will be felt for years to come. A new study reported in Nature looked at the impact of COVID-19 on the brain and the results are quite alarming. A Huffington Post article shared the news that COVID-19 has been linked to brain shrinkage in people over the age of 50.

The article stated, “Those who tested positive for Covid had more brain shrinkage and more grey matter shrinkage, notably in areas linked to smell,” compared to uninfected control subjects. Additionally, people who had COVID tended to score lower on a mental skills test than those who were not infected. The results were most pronounced in older people as well as those who were hospitalized for COVID.

A doctor involved with the study noted that the brain is “plastic” and usually can heal itself to some extent, even in older people. More studies are needed to determine whether these COVID-related brain changes are permanent.

The Seniors Trust is committed to improving the lives of seniors by working to improve Social Security. It wants to see Congress pass the Social Security Expansion Act. This landmark piece of legislation will provide bigger monthly Social Security benefits, establish a more realistic cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for seniors, and guarantee the long-term solvency of the Social Security program.