Zhonghua jie he he hu xi za zhi = Zhonghua jiehe he huxi zazhi = Chinese journal of tuberculosis and respiratory diseasesNov 11, 2025

Cognitive problems in long COVID: new insights into causes and exercise-based treatments

Long Covid Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Updated Dec 30, 2025

Abstract

About 20% of people who survive COVID-19 may experience cognitive dysfunction.

Cognitive dysfunction in long COVID includes issues with executive function, attention, and memory.
These cognitive impairments could significantly affect quality of life and social interactions.
Potential causes of cognitive dysfunction may involve neuroinflammation, glial cell issues, and damage to the blood-brain barrier.
Other factors could include autoimmunity, viral reactivation, and changes in neurotrophic factors.
Exercise rehabilitation and comprehensive rehabilitation strategies may help improve cognitive function.

Simplified

Since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, long-term effects of the virus, known as long-COVID, has emerged. It is a chronic syndrome following infection. It is estimated that around 20% of COVID-19 survivors worldwide experience cognitive dysfunction. This is characterized by impairments in executive function, attention, memory, and other cognitive domains, and can have a significant impact on quality of life and social functioning. This article systematically reviewed recent studies and summarized the potential pathological mechanisms underlying cognitive dysfunction in long COVID, including neuroinflammation, glial cell dysregulation, involvement of the olfactory pathway and limbic system, autoimmunity and viral reactivation, cerebrovascular and blood-brain barrier damage, as well as abnormalities in neurotrophic factors and synaptic plasticity. Additionally, it explored the effects of exercise rehabilitation and multidimensional comprehensive rehabilitation strategies. The aim was to provide theoretical and scientific foundations for optimizing intervention programs for cognitive dysfunction in long COVID and for formulating clinical guidelines and public health policies.

Cognitive problems in long COVID: new insights into causes and exercise-based treatments

Abstract

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