SINGAPORE: In a stunning revelation, a leading infectious disease expert in Singapore has voiced serious concerns about the long-term cognitive effects of COVID-19, including a potential drop in IQ, particularly among high-risk populations. This warning comes in the wake of alarming research findings from the United Kingdom that link COVID-19 with significant declines in cognitive functions.

The expert explained to 8World that the risk of reinfection could further worsen these cognitive impairments. He stressed the urgent need for at-risk individuals to receive updated COVID-19 vaccines to mitigate possible cognitive repercussions from the virus.

Recent studies have unveiled that patients recovering from COVID-19 exhibit troubling signs of cognitive decline. One eye-opening study revealed that the average IQ of patients had dropped by around three points post-recovery, with those who required intensive care showing a staggering decrease of nine points. Even more concerning, some research suggests that cognitive deficits could reach a ten-point drop over two to three years after infection.

A February study from Imperial College London, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, found that mild cognitive impairments in COVID-19 patients were indeed long-lasting, with affected individuals experiencing an average IQ decrease of three points. Notably, symptoms that lingered post-infection led to even harsher cognitive deterioration, equating to a six-point IQ loss, while intensive care patients suffered an alarming nine-point decline.

The implications of these findings are dire, impacting memory, reasoning, and executive functions. Interestingly, the study also indicated that patients infected with the earlier B.1.1.7 strain suffered more severe cognitive issues compared to those infected during the Omicron wave, hinting at a potential decrease in the cognitive impact of COVID-19 as the virus has evolved.

Moreover, a September study published in The Lancet by researchers at the University of Oxford and the University of Leicester corroborated these findings, indicating a striking ten-point reduction in IQ among individuals two to three years after their COVID-19 infection. Notably, vaccinated individuals who received two or more doses demonstrated superior cognitive performance compared to their unvaccinated peers.

In response to these alarming revelations, Singapore's Ministry of Health recently released updated Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna/Spikevax vaccines aimed at countering the newly emerged JN.1 COVID-19 variant. The ministry has strongly recommended that individuals aged 60 and above, vulnerable individuals aged six months and older, and nursing home residents get these updates without delay.

Health authorities further advise medical workers and anyone in close contact with high-risk patients to consider vaccination. Starting five months after their last shot, individuals are eligible for an additional booster to help bolster their defenses against both the virus and its potentially debilitating cognitive effects.

Could this be a wake-up call for all of us? Don't underestimate the impact of COVID-19 not just on physical health, but also on cognitive abilities. Stay informed and take the necessary steps to protect yourself and your loved ones!