Covid-19 lockdowns had ‘lasting impact’ on brains of over-50s, study finds

Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns and other restrictions have had a “real, lasting impact” on the brain health of people over the age of 50, researchers have suggested.

Older people’s cognitive function and working memory declined more rapidly during the pandemic, regardless of whether they were infected with Covid-19, a study has found.

Researchers from the United Kingdom’s University of Exeter and Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at King’s College London analysed brain function tests from more than 3,000 people who took part in the so-called Protect Study, launched in 2014 to gain an insight into the brain function of people over 40 over a 25-year period.

The researchers who carried out the study think factors exacerbated by pandemic restrictions such as loneliness, depression, alcohol abuse and being sedentary, may have contributed to cognitive decline in older people. Photo: Shutterstock

The group the researchers assessed, based in the UK, was aged between 50 and 90.

The team compared data from March 2019 and February 2020 to data collected during the pandemic’s first year (March 2020 to February 2021) and second year (March 2021 to February 2022).

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Analysis showed the rate of cognitive decline quickened in the first year of the pandemic, and was higher among those who had already shown signs of mild cognitive decline before the Covid-19 outbreak.

The pattern continued into the pandemic’s second year, which researchers said suggests an impact beyond the initial national lockdowns in the UK in 2020 and 2021.

“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,” says Anne Corbett, professor of dementia research and Protect Study lead at the University of Exeter.

Anne Corbett, professor of dementia research and Protect Study lead at the University of Exeter. Photo: University of Exeter

She adds that it is “now more important than ever” to make sure people showing signs of early cognitive decline are supported.

“If you are concerned about your memory, the best thing to do is to make an appointment with your [family doctor] and get an assessment,” Corbett says.

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“Our findings also highlight the need for policymakers to consider the wider health impacts of restrictions like lockdowns when planning for a future pandemic response.”

Dag Aarsland, a professor of old-age psychiatry at King’s College, said: “This study adds to the knowledge of the long-standing health consequences of Covid-19, in particular for vulnerable people such as older people with mild memory problems.

“We know a great deal of the risks for further decline, and now can add Covid-19 to this list.

Are you worried about the effect of pandemic lockdowns and restrictions on your cognitive ability? There is evidence that lifestyle changes and improved health management can positively influence mental functioning, researchers say. Photo: Shutterstock

The findings have been published in the medical journal The Lancet Healthy Longevity.

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