Health
Could COVID cause ‘face blindness’? Study suggests it’s possible
One of many largest downsides of changing into sick with COVID-19 is the shortcoming to be round pals or household throughout quarantining. However may the virus make it tough to acknowledge family members in any respect?
A current examine within the journal Cortex suggests it’s doable. Researchers from Dartmouth School in Hanover, New Hampshire, reported the primary occasion of prosopagnosia (in any other case generally known as “face blindness”) as a symptom after COVID-19 an infection.
The Nationwide Institute of Neurological Issues and Stroke defines prosopagnosia as “a neurological dysfunction characterised by the shortcoming to acknowledge faces.”
PROSOPAGNOSIA: WHAT IS THE FACE BLINDNESS CONDITION THAT BRAD PITT SAYS HE HAS?
The situation is attributable to “congenital affect, harm or impairment in a fold within the mind that seems to coordinate the neural programs controlling facial notion and reminiscence,” the web site says.
Lady unable to acknowledge members of the family after COVID
The examine centered on a 28-year-old lady named Annie, who contracted COVID in March 2020. Previous to that, Annie had no hassle recognizing faces — however two months after getting the virus, she struggled to establish even her closest members of the family.
Researchers from Dartmouth School in New Hampshire have reported the primary occasion of prosopagnosia (in any other case generally known as “face blindness”) as a symptom following COVID-19 an infection. (iStock)
In a single instance, Annie reported that she was unable to acknowledge her father’s face when she handed him at a restaurant, saying it was as if “my dad’s voice got here out of a stranger’s face.”
She instructed the researchers she now depends on folks’s voices as a method of identification.
Throughout exams, Annie was in a position to establish objects and scenes, however didn’t establish acquainted faces.
POST-COVID, CHEST PAINS MAY LINGER FOR UP TO A YEAR, NEW STUDY FINDS
She additionally reported deficits in her navigational talents, as she now struggles to seek out her means by way of a grocery retailer, find her parked automotive with out assist or keep in mind instructions to often visited places. (The researchers cited navigational issue as a standard symptom amongst prosopagnosia sufferers.)
Researchers additionally collected survey responses from 54 folks with lengthy COVID. A majority reported having issues with visible recognition and navigation talents.
“Annie’s outcomes point out that COVID-19 can produce extreme and selective neuropsychological impairment just like deficits seen following mind harm, and it seems that high-level visible impairments should not unusual in folks with lengthy COVID,” the researchers wrote.
Prosopagnosia is attributable to congenital affect, harm or impairment in a fold within the mind concerned with facial notion and reminiscence. (iStock)
Lengthy COVID refers to a situation wherein signs of the virus persist for longer than 12 weeks after the preliminary an infection.
COVID-19 has been extra generally linked to different neurological signs, together with the lack of style and odor, issue with speech, visible disturbances and psychosis, the researchers wrote.
Limitations spotlight want for extra analysis
Dr. Zachary Hoy, a board-certified pediatric infectious illness specialist at Pediatrix Medical Group in Nashville, Tennessee, who was not concerned within the analysis, identified that a number of research have emerged describing lengthy COVID’s neurologic impairments.
“It was like my dad’s voice got here out of a stranger’s face.”
“This one describes face recognition as one of many important deficits within the case examine affected person, however goes by way of to explain a number of exams utilized in figuring out totally different neurocognitive deficits,” he instructed Fox Information Digital through e mail.
“I predict we are going to discover extra of those research as extra sufferers with lengthy COVID [are] recognized.”
COVID-19 SHOCKER: PARENTS LIED ABOUT THEIR KIDS’ SICKNESS STATUS AND BROKE QUARANTINE RULES, STUDY FINDS
The examine did have some limitations. For instance, Annie didn’t get an MRI scan of her mind because of insurance coverage limitations, which implies there’s a chance that a stroke may have brought on her signs.
Annie additionally was not examined for COVID-19 because of an absence of accessible take a look at kits; her major care supplier recognized her.
The Nationwide Institute of Neurological Issues and Stroke defines prosopagnosia as “a neurological dysfunction characterised by the shortcoming to acknowledge faces.” (iStock)
“It’s unlucky that on this examine, the case management affected person didn’t have COVID PCR testing, COVID antibody testing or mind MRI imaging,” Dr. Hoy of Nashville stated.
“Management group members had been from a COVID assist group, however it didn’t describe the definition or inclusion/exclusion standards. It mentions management group members had contracted COVID, however didn’t describe what that meant in relation to COVID testing.”
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
The physician added that whereas this examine did an excellent job of describing the testing and comparisons of a number of neurocognitive exams, extra rigorous testing is required to strengthen its conclusions.
Fox Information Digital reached out to the examine authors at Dartmouth for remark.