Cognitive Impairment after COVID-19

Abstract

Many patients after the COVID-19 infection, in addition to postinfectious asthenia, develop a complex of cognitive disorders with a predominance of impaired executive functions and short-term memory, sometimes in the form of "brain fog". Cognitive impairment occurs in a significant number of patients. They have a heterogeneous structure and a complex mechanism, usually characterized by long-term persistence. Their specific features are the lack of a clear relationship with the symptoms of asthenia, as well as a significant prevalence compared to other post-infectious disorders. All this requires the development of unified approaches to their assessment, considering the individual characteristics of patients. There is a need to continue large-scale studies to optimize the complex neurorehabilitation of patients with post-COVID-19 disorders, to evaluate the efficacy and safety of potentially effective therapeutic agents for the restoration and stimulation of cognitive functions. These pharmacological agents should control the mechanisms of systemic inflammation, hemorheological parameters and provide favorable neuroprotective effects. The individualized prognosis and prevention of the consequences of coronavirus infection remains an important problem.