People ages 50 to 80 saw brain health deteriorate more quickly during the pandemic even if they didn’t have COVID-19, a new study shows.
Researchers evaluated results from more than 3,000 people who had computerized brain function tests. All of the people were in the UK, and between the ages of 50 and 90. The scientists tested the participants’ short-term memory and ability to perform complex tasks.
The researchers saw that cognitive decline revved up significantly in the first year of the pandemic. In fact, the researchers saw the rate of decline accelerate by 50% during the first year. It was higher in those who already had mild cognitive decline before the pandemic. The researchers didn’t compare these findings to people who were younger than 50, so it’s not clear if younger people experienced the same rate of cognitive decline during the pandemic. The study was published in The Lancet Healthy Longevity.
What made the cognitive decline so profound during the pandemic? Increased loneliness and depression, perhaps less exercising and drinking more all could have contributed. Researchers know that treating depression, connecting with others and exercising can reduce dementia risk and keep brain health intact.
“Our findings suggest that lockdowns and other restrictions we experienced during the pandemic have had a real lasting impact on brain health in people aged 50 or over, even after the lockdowns ended,” Anne Corbett, PhD, a professor and study lead author from the University of Exeter, said in a statement.
“It is now more important than ever to make sure we are supporting people with early cognitive decline, especially because there are things they can do to reduce their risk of dementia later on,” Corbett said.
“Our findings also highlight the need for policy-makers to consider the wider health impacts of restrictions like lockdowns when planning for a future pandemic response,” Corbett added.
