Researchers have found that more than half of South Africans infected with Covid-19 experienced lasting mental and cognitive health issues long after their recovery — some for as long as up to two years later.
The research, conducted by the University of Cape Town and published in the journal Brain, Behavior, & Immunity — Health, followed 97 people who tested positive for Covid-19 during the first three waves of the pandemic.
These people — ranging from those who had no symptoms to those who were critically ill — were interviewed at least six months after they were infected to assess ongoing neuropsychiatric symptoms like anxiety, fatigue, and memory problems.
Lead researcher Prof Jonny Peter said they found that illness severity didn’t necessarily predict who would go on to experience these long-term effects. Even people who had mild or no symptoms reported problems months later.
“Nearly half of the participants showed signs of cognitive or memory difficulties on standard screening tests, and over 50% reported ongoing fatigue or mental health challenges,” he said.
“The team also looked for early warning signs in the blood — specific proteins or markers taken during the patients’ illness that might help predict who would develop these persistent symptoms.”
Peter said no clear patterns emerged.