PeerJApr 28, 2026

How common long COVID brain fog is and what affects it among college students in Taizhou, China

Long Covid Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗OA ↗

Updated Jun 27, 2026

Abstract

Essence

Brain fog was common among surveyed college students who reported long COVID in Taizhou, China.

Evidence

This cross-sectional WeChat questionnaire study of 1,071 students from two tertiary institutions found long COVID in 13.7% and brain fog in 27.2% of the 147 long-COVID students, with associations for age over 20 years, COVID-19 clinical classification, and decreased smell and taste.

Caveat

The survey was self-reported, cross-sectional, and limited to two institutions, so it cannot establish causality or broad prevalence beyond this student sample.

Simplified

BACKGROUND: Long COVID following SARS-CoV-2 infection is a public health concern. Brain fog, a symptom of long COVID, has an impact on patients' daily lives and health. However, studies on the effects of COVID on college students are limited.

METHODS: This cross-sectional study included students from two tertiary institutions in Taizhou, China. Data were collected using WeChat-based electronic questionnaires on the Wen-Juan-Xing survey platform from July 20, 2023 to August 7, 2023. Chi-square analyses and binary logistic regression were used to evaluate the factors contributing to brain fog.

RESULTS: A total of 1,071 students participated in the survey. Of these 1,071 students, 13.7% (147/1,071) reported experiencing long COVID, of whom 27.2% (40/147) reported symptoms of brain fog. Significant associations with brain fog were observed for the following factors: age (> 20≤ 20 years, odds ratio (OR) = 4.360, 95% confidence interval (CI) [1.620-11.740]), clinical classification of COVID-19 (OR = 2.940, 95% CI [1.230-7.010]), and a decreased sense of smell and taste (OR = 5.110, 95% CI [1.240-21.110]). vs.

CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the significant prevalence of long COVID brain fog among college students and identifies key associated factors, underscoring the need for specific, focused interventions and support for affected individuals.

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How common long COVID brain fog is and what affects it among college students in Taizhou, China

Abstract

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