Scientists trying to find if video games can help treat Covid-19 brain fog

New clinical research by scientists of Weill Cornell Medicine is trying to determine whether video game-based therapy can help recover COVID-19 patients with cognitive disorder symptoms.

A small percentage of people never seem fully recover from Covid-19. These patients, dubbed 'long-haulers,' continue to experience symptoms such as loss of taste and smell, fatigue, insomnia, and headaches, for weeks if not months after infection. Some people also have trouble with memory and concentration. While there has been limited research on the causes of this effect of COVID-19, there has been even less research on how to treat it properly. A team of scientists from Weill Cornell Medicine is testing a prescription video game to see if it can help people who have lingering memory and attention problems described as 'Brian Fog' after recovering from COVID-19. The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) defines brain fog as having difficulty thinking or concentrating and lists it as a possible lingering symptom after recovering from Covid-19 infection. Brain fog can also include confusion and a slowed ability to process information.Any person can develop neuropsychiatric effects from Covid-19, but people with a severe infection that requires ICU admission might have a greater risk of developing neurological problems such as delirium.