Pandemic ‘had lasting impact’ on brain health of people aged 50 or over

[Social Media]

 

The pandemic has caused sustained harm to the brain health of people aged 50 or over, rapidly speeding up cognitive decline regardless of whether or not they caught Covid, researchers have discovered.

Almost 780 million people were killed or made ill by the coronavirus, according to the World Health Organization. Health experts are now learning more about the indirect effects of the biggest public health crisis in a century.

 

A study has found that cognitive function and working memory in older adults declined more quickly during the first year of the pandemic between March 2020 and February 2021, even if they were not infected with the virus. The trend continued into 2021/22, suggesting an impact beyond the initial lockdowns.

 

The research is the largest of its kind to link the pandemic conditions – and the enormous lifestyle shifts triggered by lockdowns and other Covid restrictions – to sustained cognitive decline.

The acceleration in cognitive decline has been exacerbated by a number of factors since the arrival of Covid, the researchers said. These included an increase in loneliness and depression, a fall in exercise and higher alcohol consumption, as well as the effects of the disease itself. The study, led by the University of Exeter and King’s College London, was published in the Lancet Healthy Longevity journal.

Anne Corbett, a professor in dementia research and the lead at Exeter for the Protect study, said: “Our findings suggest that lockdowns and other restrictions we experienced during the pandemic have had a real lasting impact on brain health in people aged 50 or over, even after the lockdowns ended.

“This raises the important question of whether people are at a potentially higher risk of cognitive decline, which can lead to dementia.

“It is now more important than ever to make sure we are supporting people with early cognitive decline, especially because there are things they can do to reduce their risk of dementia later on.” She advised people concerned about their memory to see their GP.

 

FULL ARTICLE

 

[Eleftheros]

Right. So it wasn't the pandemic which ruined these people's lives, it was the incompetent, blundering, arrogant, heavy-handed response to the pandemic.

 

We knew this already, but for The Guardian to admit it is some sort of a belated step in the right direction.

[KannikaP]

12 minutes ago, Social Media said:

She advised people concerned about their memory to see their GP.

It is so long since I had to see him, I have forgotten who he is!   555

[sirineou]

5 minutes ago, Eleftheros said:

Right. So it wasn't the pandemic which ruined these people's lives, it was the incompetent, blundering, arrogant, heavy-handed response to the pandemic.

 

We knew this already, but for The Guardian to admit it is some sort of a belated step in the right direction.

I agree, if they were allowed to die from the pandemic you would have never experienced cognitive decline . 

[connda]

Probably so.  70% of the population were scared out of their mind (present company excluded). 
Two years of a constant message of "FEAR" promoted by medical authorities, pharmaceutical companies, their regulators, and every government on the planet (except for Sweden) all funneled through the bull-horn of the main-stream media.

Trust me.  It's not just those over 50.  It will be a population-wide, long-term, psychosis as those impacted by the fear-based messaging are affected the worse.  Then the kids?  Two years of masks and lock-downs didn't do Gen-Z and Gen-Alpha any favors.

Worse, they are still at it.
"It's A New Variant!  Be Afraid."
The most mentally damaged in global societies, buckle every time they hear that message.  "Be afraid - new variant - this one will kill you."

[JayClay]

34 minutes ago, Social Media said:

The pandemic has caused sustained harm to the brain health of people aged 50 or over, rapidly speeding up cognitive decline

 

That would certainly explain a lot of the user generated content on this site...

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Studies have shown that COVID infection and disease itself contributes to brain problems:

COVID-19 can cause brain shrinkage, memory loss - study

March 8, 2022

 

March 8 (Reuters) - COVID-19 can cause the brain to shrink, reduce grey matter in the regions that control emotion and memory, and damage areas that control the sense of smell, an Oxford University study has found.

 

The scientists said that the effects were even seen in people who had not been hospitalised with COVID, and whether the impact could be partially reversed or if they would persist in the long term needed further investigation.

...

Even in mild cases, participants in the research showed "a worsening of executive function" responsible for focus and organising, and on an average brain sizes shrank between 0.2% and 2%."

 

(more)

 

https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/covid-19-can-cause-brain-shrinkage-memory-loss-study-2022-03-08/

 

 

Edited November 2, 2023 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

And further for older people who have been infected with COVID:

Possible 69% higher risk of Alzheimer's for older COVID survivors

September 14, 2022

 

"Older COVID-19 survivors may be at a 69% higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease within 1 year of infection, according to a retrospective study of 6 million Americans 65 years and older published yesterday in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.

 

The study, led by Case Western Reserve University researchers, involved analysis of the medical records of 6,245,282 adults aged 65 years and older who had medical visits but no previous diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease from February 2020 to May 2021.

...

The team said it's not clear whether COVID-19 triggers or accelerates development of Alzheimer's disease, noting that SARS-CoV-2 has been associated with inflammation and central nervous system disorders."

 

(more)

 

https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/possible-69-higher-risk-alzheimers-older-covid-survivors

 

[TroubleandGrumpy]

6 million died (apparently) over a period of 3 years - nowhere near as much as they initially predicted.

So what do they say - 780 Million were either 'Killed or Sick' - atypical public servant bureautic double speak.

Clearly a lot more peope had their lives 'damaged' by the 'lock down response' - than by the Virus itself.

Proof?  Sweden !!

 

UN and WHO etc. being held accountable ?

As much chance as a Thai Minister/PM ever saying 'I was wrong and I apologise'. 

[zhounan]

What about kids?

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Worth noting that one of the same UK colleges involved in the OP study did separate research earlier this year that found COVID survivors with Long COVID symptoms also experienced memory and cognitive impairment up to two years post-infection.

 

‘Brain fog’ of long Covid comparable to ageing 10 years, study finds

Symptoms of infection can last two years, but researchers find no lasting cognitive impairment after individuals fully recover

 

Fri 21 Jul 2023

 

"The so-called “brain fog” symptom associated with long Covid is comparable to ageing 10 years, researchers have suggested.

 

In a study by King’s College London, researchers investigated the impact of Covid-19 on memory and found cognitive impairment highest in individuals who had tested positive and had more than three months of symptoms.

...

“The fact remains that two years on from their first infection, some people don’t feel fully recovered and their lives continue to be impacted by the long-term effects of the coronavirus,” said Claire Steves, a professor of ageing and health at King’s College."

 

(more)

 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jul/21/long-covid-brain-fog-ageing-10-years-study

 

Edited November 2, 2023 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[thaicurious]

Just as reminder that before vaccinations, without lockdowns, healthcare systems would have crashed (were crashing), not just for caring for victims of coronavirus, but for all healthcare needs. The more people vaccinated, the more hospitals could handle breakthrough cases of the vaxxed and the multiples of more cases of the nonvaxxed.

 

2020

https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/03/us/coronavirus-funerals-bodies/index.html

"The grim struggle to keep up with death was highlighted on Wednesday, when four trucks with as many as 60 decomposing bodies were discovered on a busy street outside a Brooklyn funeral home. A passerby saw fluids dripping from the trucks."

 

https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/24/europe/spain-ice-rink-morgue-coronavirus-intl/index.html

"Spain turns ice rink into a morgue as coronavirus deaths pile up"

 

https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/10/us/el-paso-covid-mobile-morgues/index.html

"El Paso, Texas, is asking for 4 more mobile morgues as Covid-19 deaths spike"

 

https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/28/health/us-coronavirus-monday/index.html

"Increase in coronavirus admissions prompts a Los Angeles hospital to use chapel, gift shop for new patients"

 

https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/healthcare/2020/11/30/covid-field-hospital-cranston-begin-accepting-patients-monday/6461763002/

"Rhode Island hospitals are full. Covid field hospital opening today."

 

2021

https://www.npr.org/2021/07/16/1017012853/97-of-people-entering-hospitals-for-covid-19-are-unvaccinated

"97% Of People Entering Hospitals For COVID-19 Are Unvaccinated"

 

2021

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/08/24/cdc-study-shows-unvaccinated-people-are-29-times-more-likely-to-be-hospitalized-with-covid.html

"CDC study shows unvaccinated people are 29 times more likely to be hospitalized with Covid"

 

2022

https://health.ucdavis.edu/news/headlines/some-80-of-patients-hospitalized-with-covid-are-unvaccinated/2022/10

"Some 80% of patients hospitalized with COVID are unvaccinated"

 

2023

"https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/study-75-infants-hospitalized-covid-19-born-unvaccinated-women-0

"Study: 75% of infants hospitalized with COVID-19 born to unvaccinated women"

 

But but but but lockdowns!

[impulse]

Could be as simple as increased CO2 behind those masks, up to 10x the level that's been determined by studies to be toxic.

 

Results: Fresh air has around 0.04% CO2, while wearing masks more than 5 min bears a possible chronic exposure to carbon dioxide of 1.41% to 3.2% of the inhaled air. Although the buildup is usually within the short-term exposure limits, long-term exceedances and consequences must be considered due to experimental data. US Navy toxicity experts set the exposure limits for submarines carrying a female crew to 0.8% CO2 based on animal studies which indicated an increased risk for stillbirths. Additionally, mammals who were chronically exposed to 0.3% CO2 the experimental data demonstrate a teratogenicity with irreversible neuron damage in the offspring, reduced spatial learning caused by brainstem neuron apoptosis and reduced circulating levels of the insulin-like growth factor-1.

Just to be clear, the linked study doesn't claim that's the case (neither do I)  Just that it may be a good idea to study it.  On that, I do agree.

 

https://www.cell.com/heliyon/pdf/S2405-8440(23)01324-5.pdf

 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

A study does not show that COVID-19 mask wearing raises risk of stillbirths, other health problems

The ‘study’ was an article that reviewed studies. It presented no evidence that masks caused serious health problems.

May 1, 2023

 

"Experts told us the article is flawed.

 

Dr. Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, said the review article relied partly on studies of animals that are chronically exposed to carbon dioxide.

Those studies are not applicable to humans intermittently wearing face masks, he said.

 

Jeremy Howard, a scientist at the University of San Francisco, said the review article overestimates by 60 times the amount of carbon dioxide people breathe when wearing masks."

 

https://www.poynter.org/fact-checking/2023/a-study-does-not-show-that-covid-19-mask-wearing-raises-risk-of-stillbirths-other-health-problems/

 

"Quality" science on face mask wear from listed authors who are an "independent researcher," a "non clinical expert veterinarian," and a psychology faculty member... Great!

 

 

 

Edited November 2, 2023 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[impulse]

2 hours ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

"Quality" science on face mask wear from listed authors who are an "independent researcher," a "non clinical expert veterinarian," and a psychology faculty member... Great!

 

Once again, there's that utter lack of curiosity...   

 

Does it take a PhD in anything to put together several studies that say certain levels of CO2 are toxic along with other studies that say wearing masks for an extended period increase the level of CO2, and conclude that's worth a look-see?   That's what they've claimed.  It's worth looking into.  

 

[impulse]

Dbl Post

Edited November 2, 2023 by impulse

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

In fact, I'm very curious on such things, which is why I'm widely read on the subject...and pay attention to what credible sources (not anti-mask veterinarians and psychologists) report on the subject:

 

Per Reuters news agency:

Fact check: Face masks do not cause “terrible damage” to the brain by depriving it of oxygen

"A video being shared online has falsely said face coverings do nothing to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus and will instead deprive the brain of oxygen, causing damage to adults and developmental issues in children.

...

Firstly, there is no evidence to suggest face masks cause oxygen deprivation that is “dangerous” to adult brains or that prevent a youthful brain from developing properly. A study from U.S. researchers in July found an average face mask did not limit the flow of oxygen to the lungs – and even in test subjects with severe lung diseases (here).

...

Meanwhile, Learnaboutcovid19.org, a global team of public health experts, said wearing a mask is considered safe and effective for most people."

 

https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-factcheck-oxygen/fact-check-face-masks-do-not-cause-terrible-damage-to-the-brain-by-depriving-it-of-oxygen-idUSKBN2761ZW

 

[n00dle]

8 hours ago, JayClay said:

 

That would certainly explain a lot of the user generated content on this site...

nice!