Understanding the mechanisms of action of SARS-CoV-2 in the nervous system and the possible neurological sequelae left by Covid-19 is a challenge that scientists around the world are still trying to decipher. Among the various consequences reported by people who have been infected by the virus, memory loss and difficulty concentrating worry experts. Researchers from the Santos Dumont Institute (ISD), in Macaíba (RN), turned to the subject in order to try to contribute to scientific advances in this area. From the study, the group found that another sector could be affected and should be aware of the impact of these consequences: education. 

The article “Cognitive sequelae of Covid-19 and their possible relationship with educational problems: a systematic review”, published in the annals of the III Latin American Workshop on Computational Neuroscience [“3rd Latin American Workshop on Computational Neuroscience”, in free translation], signed by the researchers Drielle Viana Vieira, Tainá dos Santos Rêgo, Sayonara Pereira da Silva, Maria Carolina Gonzalez and researcher Edgard Morya, brings a review of the most recent scientific works that sought to evaluate the impacts of Covid-19 on memory and learning. 

“We started with a base of 2,000 articles, and ended up with around 14. Initially, one might think that it's not much, but the truth is that this topic still has little production in the scientific literature. Many studies are in progress, and everything is very recent”, explains Master's student in Neuroengineering Drielle Viana. 

She claims that studies show a growing number of reports of cognitive and memory deficits after the Covid-19 infection, and that this can have impacts in two different areas of education: student learning and the dissemination of knowledge by teachers. “We chose to analyze these two aspects, and we also raised a question regarding the extra care that will be needed in diagnoses such as ADHD [Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder] or autism, for example, which can be confused with sequelae of Covid-19 ”, he completes. 

In addition to the review, which will allow other researchers to access in a simplified way the conclusion of the main studies being conducted on the subject, the researchers also suggest a strategy for improving learning in cases of memory deficit. “The use of interactive and memory games are good ways to offer training in a lighter way and that can have a positive impact on learning”, says Drielle.

The group's work was conducted in the first half of 2021, when reports about the “long Covid” were not yet widely disseminated. According to researcher Edgard Morya, the study reinforces the need for scientific research to seek to anticipate certain problems and possible solutions that impact various sectors of society. “This work underscores the importance of research working with data to anticipate changes like this, which we currently see frequently in the long Covid”, highlights Morya. 

The long COVID

Long Covid gained disease status and official definition by the World Health Organization (WHO). Usually, the disease appears three months after the onset of Covid-19, with symptoms that last at least two months and cannot be explained by an alternative diagnosis. There are still no specific tests to detect the condition. According to the Organization, symptoms include fatigue, shortness of breath, cognitive dysfunctions and others with an impact on the daily functioning of the organism.