Discovery: COVID-19 Infections Lower IQ!

A recent study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, uncovers a surprising facet of potential long-term effects of Covid-19: its impact on the Intelligence Quotient (IQ). Conducted by researchers from Imperial College London, this study examined nearly 113,000 British adults, unveiling worrying conclusions.


Participants who overcame the infection within less than a month exhibited a drop of about 3 IQ points compared to those not infected. However, this decrease was more pronounced in individuals experiencing persistent symptoms, with up to a 6-point drop for "long Covid" cases and up to 9 points for patients requiring Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission. While this decline is significant, it appears to be temporary, as those gradually recovering from persistent symptoms only demonstrate a slight decrease of 3 IQ points.

A ray of hope is noted with the Omicron variant, as patients quickly recovering from its symptoms suffer no IQ reduction. Moreover, individuals vaccinated against the virus appear to be less affected than those who are not vaccinated.

Nonetheless, these findings raise concerns about the long-term public health impact, particularly regarding the increased risk of cognitive diseases such as Alzheimer's. Despite advances in understanding the underlying mechanisms, the long-term clinical implications remain uncertain.

This study highlights the necessity for ongoing monitoring of Covid-19's effects on the brain and underscores the importance of vaccination and the search for therapeutic solutions to mitigate the potential long-term consequences of this devastating disease.