Has anyone seen their LO’s dementia get worse quickly after COVID?

Hi Mapotter,
actually my mother caught Covid in November of 2020 before vaccines. Aside from testing positive the only symptom was a worsening of her dementia. She was refusing all food, all drinks, all meds and all care. Her residence recommended that she be sent to the hospital as a precaution since they were not certain how these symptoms will affect her and the illness. At the hospital all the doctors and nurses I spoke to said that they noticed that a lot of older adults with mild dementia (or who are further in their dementia voyage) seem to have their dementia symptoms worsen in Covid. In fact a lot only have the worsening of the dementia symptoms as a sign of Covid. They believed at the time that the virus could be causing inflammation in the brain. When I visited my mother in the hospital that was the first time she truly had no idea who I was, which broke my heart. My being there stressed her out and she was aggressive which is not at all her personality. She had no fever, no breathing problems, no cough, no congestion. Not one of the known Covid symptoms. only the increase in dementia symptoms. She went from middle stage to severe dementia. I spoke to some of the caregivers on my mother’s floor at her residence and they were saying that a lot of those who contracted Covid never got back to their precovid state. This illness is not just a cold or a flu like some people want to believe. Personally I am worried about what this may do to us long term. But we will only find out later on.

so yes I have heard about Covid causing a persons dementia to progress and doctors on the front lines dealing directly with it were saying they certainly saw it. It is a scary illness that can really impact the health of a person long term. Again this is not just a cold regardless of what people want to believe or pretend. We need to continue to protect ourselves and those with weakened immune systems. But that part is just my belief derived from my experience with it.

BRAIN LESIONS DUE TO COVID
After posting yesterday about my friend who moved to a care facility due to brain fog after a mild case of Covid followed by rapid cognitive decline, I learned that this person has brain lesions and is participating in a research study about the disease.

I found an interesting and credible article on the Houston Methodist health care site about the effect of Covid on the brain. Microbleeds and accelerated cognitive issues are mentioned. I found it well worth reading. Please take a look.

https://www.houstonmethodist.org/newsroom/covid-19-infection-in-crucial-brain-regions-may-lead-to-accelerated-brain-aging/

I also know of people close to friends of mine who died of kidney failure due to Covid. The reason was explained that Covid causes blood clotting, and blood clotted in their kidneys. The people were in their 60s and 70s and not considered to be in bad health before Covid infection.

It is not "just a cold."

My mom and I got covid last year, but we were fully vaccinated and had very mild cases. I noticed no acceleration in her dementia, just continuing decline. I will say that the isolation we endured through the previous couple years contributed greatly to her decline. She missed her bingo, bridge and knitting groups and church services.

When my mom got a very light case of covid about a month after her second vaccination her speech got very bad and she was a bit worse with balance and walking with her walker. Her dementia definitely got worse very suddenly.

My good friend that I posted about earlier has moved to assisted living due to (probably) aftereffects from Covid. There were no indications of cognitive decline before Covid. Involved in many activities requiring good intellectual capacity. Actively was taking care of spouse with other health issues and spouse got Covid first. Spouse died of Covid. Friend had mild case, just a slight cough, but never got over brain fog from Covid, and rapid cognitive decline came on possibly as result. Was in a study about it. Now is in care facility that steps up to memory care when needed.

We need to avoid getting and spreading Covid. There’s still a lot to learn.

We have had 3 boosters and then got the new strain last July. It was no worse than a head cold for us. But I heard of COVID fog and people declining more with Dementia after having it.

Mapotter,

I haven't personally seen anyone post on AC that their elder had covid and it worsened their dementia specifically. We have seen people with some "long covid" symptoms of weakness, and difficulty with breathing for a period of time. I hope if anyone has personal experience they will post that to you on this thread.

They are remaining very uncertain of some of the things covid does to the body, whether they are changes in blood vessels or inflammatory conditions is still under study.

If you are not noting any changes now, I seriously doubt you will see any that are due to covid. But again, we are only beginning to learn about this new virus. I sure wish you the best and hope you'll keep us informed how you are doing.

Having said that about my mother, who was already diagnosed with dementia, I do have friends in their 50s and 60s who complained vehemently about post-COVID brain fog. All have improved 6-12 months later, but a few still have lingering health problems.

My mother’s sharp decline coincided with COVID. She was hospitalized so she was no longer physically active and, in your 90s one must move it or lose it quickly. We used to walk her a great deal daily. Halfway through her hospital stay she stopped moving, stopped talking, stopped feeding herself. Tests found nothing wrong. Behavioural. (long story) She was declining before getting COVID. I can’t determine whether giving up physical activity or virus-related inflammation contributed more. Or both equally.

Yes, a good friend experienced this. Also some other people that I know. It’s real.

Yes I have. Seen a relative with mild memory issues decline in both short term memory & daily living skills after Covid.

Many people without dementia have reported brain fog too. One young person told me it lasted about 6 months for her. I felt a little brain sluggish after my 2nd run in with Covid.

I expect Covid, like other infections, along with injuries & illnesses can bring changes (ie a new normal) to people living with dementia. But whether temporary or permanent I suppose only time will tell.

I hope recovery goes well for your LO & yourself.

Any illness would make my mother's cognition take a dive from which she'd never recover all the way.

I haven't read anything specific to Covid, but she also had it and declined a fair amount after that. Her nursing home was still in complete lockdown (January '21), so I wasn't able to see her daily. It's hard to know which led to her decline more -- Covid or from the lockdown.