COVID can increase your risk of neurological issues by 42%, new study shows

News about the long-term effects of COVID-19 has just gotten worse.

A study by researchers at the Washington University School of Medicine and the Veterans Affairs St. Louis Health Care system finds that people who had COVID-19 were 42% more likely to develop neurological issues – including memory problems and even Alzheimer’s disease – the year following initial infection.

While the issue of COVID-related brain fog is well documented, and other long-term symptoms have been recorded, this new study published in Nature Medicine is scary because it suggests the infection’s long-term impact may be vastly worse than we imagined.

Researchers found the variety of neurological issues was surprising. The study population had increased risk of developing 44 neurological brain disorders – from headaches and seizures to anxiety and depression, and more serious conditions, including memory disorders like Alzheimer’s disease and episodic disorders like epilepsy. 

The study, which used the health care database from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, looked at roughly 150,000 people who were infected with COVID-19 and 11 million people without it. 

“It’s really sobering,” said Ziyad Al-Aly, MD, an epidemiologist and researcher on the study, during an interview with National Public Radio’s WBUR. “COVID-19 is really not as benign as some people think it is.” 

The symptoms of long COVID have been widely reported. We may all know someone who has been tired or achy since getting over the infection. But the Nature Medicine report suggests the impact may be more severe – and certainly far more severe than a common flu.

Bottom line: Get vaccinated against COVID-19 to protect yourself as much as possible. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that everyone who is at least 5 years old get vaccinated and get at least one updated, bivalent booster. The new boosters protect against both the original virus that causes COVID-19 and the Omicron variant BA.4 and BA.5. Two COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers, Pfizer and Moderna, offer bivalent boosters.

The timing to get those boosters depends on an individual’s age and health. To check if you or your loved ones should get a booster, visit the CDC website and scroll down to the section entitled “Find Out When You Can Get Your Booster.” It offers guidance tailored to your needs.