Real Housewives of Dallas star D’Andra Simmons is worried about experiencing memory loss after her COVID-19 infection. Simmons was hospitalized due to the coronavirus in late December because she had low oxygen levels and received treatment with remdesivir, an antiviral drug, People reported at the time.
“I’m really scared about the fatigue because … I’m having a hard time sleeping,” Simmons told Page Six. “So then if I don’t sleep, I can’t get the rest I need for healing. And also the body aches are lingering. As far as the memory loss, I haven’t had as much of that as my husband has, but that’s my biggest fear in the world, is losing my cognitive ability.”
How common is it to have memory loss after COVID-19? Well, the most common symptoms of COVID-19 include a cough, shortness of breath, body aches, fever, and congestion, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say. And some people, especially those patients who are hospitalized for coronavirus infections, can experience neurological symptoms as well, SELF explained previously. Those symptoms include things like headaches and dizziness, as well as encephalopathy, which is a condition indicating a change in brain function that can result in memory loss, confusion, and difficulty concentrating.
Consistently not getting enough sleep (like Simmons mentions) can also lead to memory issues. Quality sleep is necessary for your brain to create new long-term memories and maintain the memories you have, SELF reported previously. But if you’re going without sleep or your sleep is not high quality, that process can be interrupted, resulting in memory lapses.
So although memory loss isn’t one of the most common COVID-19 symptoms, it is possible to experience memory issues after a coronavirus infection due to multiple factors. As coronavirus cases and deaths continue to rise in the U.S., it’s crucial to stick with the public health tools we have—wearing masks, staying socially distanced, washing our hands, and getting vaccinated when possible—to prevent spreading the virus and its various symptoms.
Related:
- Most Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients Experience Neurological Symptoms, According to New Research
- 7 Possible Reasons You’re Having Those Weird Memory Lapses
- COVID-19 vs. the Flu: Here Are the Symptoms to Watch For