2023-11-05 18:06:00
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Researchers identify loneliness and depression as risk factors for cognitive decline. © Imago Images
Memory problems and less brain performance: The corona pandemic has caused lasting damage to older people. Several factors play a role.
London – The corona pandemic has left its mark on many people. And not just for those who contracted the virus and may still be struggling with long-term consequences such as Long Covid. According to a recent study, brain performance in adults over 50 years of age and regardless of Covid infection has noticeably decreased since the beginning of the pandemic.
Study shows decline in performance following corona pandemic
In the now presented study in the specialist journal The Lancet was published, a research team evaluated data from the so-called Protect study. The long-term British study was launched back in 2015 to better understand how the brain ages and find out how the risk of dementia and mental health risks can be reduced. A team of researchers from the University of Exeter and King’s College in London used the data collected there from a total of 3,124 people over the age of 50 for their analysis.
The participants took part in computer-assisted brain function tests. Tests from before the pandemic and during the first and second year of the pandemic were evaluated. None of those tested were diagnosed with dementia at the start of data collection.
Deterioration in brain performance following corona disease in older people
The striking thing is that the analysis of the data showed that in the first year of the pandemic, i.e. from the beginning of March 2020 to the end of February 2021, there was a significant deterioration in short-term memory and in solving complex tasks. This cognitive decline was even more pronounced in people who were already affected by such age-related decline before the pandemic. In some cases the restriction even exceeded 50 percent of the performance.
And in the second year, in the test period from the beginning of March 2021 to the end of February 2022, the reduction in participants’ performance continued. In their study, the researchers assume that these declining cognitive abilities are related to several areas that were restricted during the pandemic. They cite various factors such as less exercise, more alcohol consumption and an increase in loneliness and depression at this time.
Too little exercise and alcohol as causes of cognitive decline
According to the researchers, lack of exercise is a known risk factor for the decline in cognitive abilities. “For most adults, circumstances during the pandemic have caused habits to be disrupted, resulting in less regular, intensive and sustained exercise,” the scientists said in the publication of their study. Increased alcohol consumption and loneliness and depression can also lead to a decline in cognitive abilities. At the same time, they are also known individual risk factors for dementia.
But according to the researchers, it is not yet too late to take measures to stop the decline in performance of those affected and thus reduce the risk of dementia. Previous research has shown that physical activity, treating existing depression and returning to the community and socializing with people are important ways to maintain brain health. They are calling on the healthcare system to pay more attention to this group. They also appeal to politicians to use the results of the study to prepare for future pandemics.
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However, dementia and age-related decline in memory and concentration cannot be equated. While dementia describes a number of illnesses and can also affect younger people, a certain amount of brain deterioration is normal in old age. You become a little forgetful or find it more difficult to learn new things. A US research team recently discovered what lies behind this forgetfulness in old age. (alm)
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