By: Nima Ramezan-Arab, M.D., medical director, Comprehensive Stroke Center, MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center

It’s now been over a year since the COVID-19 pandemic began, and while the illness is widely known as a respiratory disease, research has shown that it can cause neurological effects, leading to long-term damage of the brain. The severity of these neurological effects vary from person to person since each immune system reacts differently to COVID-19.

Some of the common side effects include:

  • Loss of smell or taste.
  • Headaches, dizziness or pain in the eye during movement.
  • Cognitive impairments, which include changes in memory and attention.
  • Inability to comprehend written information or carry out simple conversations.
  • “Brain fog,” a term used to describe when a person is feeling sluggish, fuzzy and unable to think clearly.

More serious direct side effects can include:

  • Most commonly, acute stroke.
  • Encephalitis, or inflammation in the brain, which can lead to changes in brain function may occur rarely
  • Guillain-Barré syndrome, also a rare disorder in which the immune system attacks the body’s nerves, which can lead to changes in bodily movements and functions.

COVID-19’s Clotting Effects and Strokes

COVID-19 can cause the body to enter a hypercoagulable state, which in some circumstance, can cause formation of clots that can lead to stroke.

A stroke is a “brain attack” that occurs when the brain doesn’t get the amount of blood it needs to function properly. Just like a heart attack injures the heart, a stroke injures the brain. It’s critical to seek medical attention immediately to minimize the long-term effects and even prevent death.

Time lost is brain lost during a stroke, so every minute counts. It’s important to learn the signs of a stroke by using the acronym B.E. F.A.S.T.:

  • B: Balance Lost – sudden loss of balance and coordination
  • E: Eyes Blur – sudden trouble seeing or blurred vision
  • F: Facial Drooping – face drooping on one side or numbness
  • A: Arm Weakness – arm or leg numbness, especially on one side of the body
  • S: Speech Difficulty – sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding speech
  • T: Time to Call 911 – note the time of the first symptom, and call 911 immediately

Expert Neurological and Stroke Care

If you believe you or someone you love is experiencing long-term neurological effects from a COVID-19 diagnosis, talk to a doctor. Find a primary care doctor who can help at memorialcare.org/Providers.

For those who experience a stroke, whether COVID-19 induced or not, call 911 immediately to be taken to the nearest hospital. It’s important that the hospital is a Comprehensive Stroke Center, like the Joint Commission Certified Comprehensive Stroke Center at MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center. Learn about the Center at memorialcare.org/BeFast.