Brain fog, also known as cognitive dysfunction, describes issues with your usual cognition or thinking skills. With Long COVID, there is usually no damage to the brain tissue. However, Long COVID can affect how the brain executes tasks on a chemical and cellular level.

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Brain fog can impact a person’s ability to perform their regular day-to-day tasks, or their roles and responsibilities at work or at home. A person with brain fog may notice some or all of the following changes:

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1. It is more difficult to pay attention or concentrate on one task or switch between tasks.

2. You feel more sensitive to light, sounds, or busy environments.

3. You are slower to think and respond in conversation.  

4. It can feel difficult or tiring to find the right words or carry on a conversation.

5. Cognitive tasks (like reading or following a TV show) can tire you out quickly, or you realize you have become very tired after a routine cognitive task.

6. It is difficult to remember information you use daily like a password or recent events or details.

7. It is difficult to plan or stay organized.

 

If you are concerned about your cognition (thinking), particularly your ability to operate a vehicle or heavy machinery safely and consistently, please talk to a health care provider who is informed about long COVID. It is important to do a detailed clinical evaluation with or under the guidance of a clinician, as suggested by the Canadian Guidelines for Post COVID-19 Condition (CAN-PCC).