July 21, 2023 | Categories: Health, Health Care, Mental Health
Long COVID is categorized as a chronic illness following the infection of COVID-19 that seems to impact about 10 to 25 percent of patients. Even if you aren’t experiencing these symptoms right now, recent research published in SN Comprehensive Clinical Medicine finds that anyone infected with COVID-19 is at high risk for developing long-term neurological complications, such as “brain fog” or cognitive impairment.
“Brain fog” also includes problems with inattention, memory recall, language fluency, executive functions, and how fast the brain processes things. Some symptoms resemble adult ADHD, a mental health disorder with persistent inattention, distractibility, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.
Whether or not you were infected with COVID and are experiencing concentration issues or cognitive struggles, if you suspect you have adult ADHD, it’s best to get tested by a mental health professional.
Think about the timeline of when those issues started, he advises. “It is possible that a patient has had both adult ADHD and long-haul COVID symptoms and they’re finally getting around to saying, ‘I want this treated,’” Dr. Bassi says.
How is Brain Fog Similar to ADHD Symptoms?
ADHD is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in childhood, says Dr. Jean-Baptiste. While those behaviors are usually noticed earlier in life, many more adults are now being diagnosed with adult ADHD later in life, she says.
Non-stimulant medications can be part of a treatment program to control symptoms of ADHD, like attention and impulsivity. And research has shown some non-stimulants can help with inattentive symptoms and brain fog associated with long-haul COVID.
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