The Air Rescue Team of FEMERAID International informs all our members, Knights and Dames of the Sovereign Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, Knights of Malta, Federation of the Autonomous Priories (KMFAP) about the followings:
A recent study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, sheds light on the potential cognitive impacts of COVID-19 on people who have previously been infected with the virus. The findings reveal that individuals recovering from COVID-19 may experience slower and less accurate cognitive performance, with variations based on factors such as infection severity, variant type and vaccination status.
The study indicates that those who had recovered from mild COVID-19 illness presented an IQ loss of 3 points, and those with persistent COVID-19 symptoms had an IQ loss of 6 points, and finally those who had been admitted to the intensive care unit, showed cognitive deficits in 9 points of IQ.
Notably, people infected with the original virus variant or the B.1.1.7 variant early in the pandemic appeared to experience greater cognitive challenges, while people infected during the later Omicron period showed smaller declines.
Interestingly, research suggests that people who became infected with COVID-19 after receiving two or more vaccinations showed better cognitive performance compared to their unvaccinated counterparts. This underscores the potential protective role of vaccination in mitigating the severity of cognitive effects following infection.
FEMERAID International Team continues to recommend COVID vaccine boosters for those who are more vulnerable, to prevent reinfections.
These results emphasize the ongoing importance of vigilance and preventive measures.
11th March 2024
Dr. Nuno Gonçalo Cosmelli
Air Physician
Director of Air Rescue Service, and General Secretary of FEMERAID International