THE NEUROPSYCHOLOGY OF LONG COVID
Altay Yüce Turan, trainee neuropsychologist
Thursday 23–Friday 24 January 9.15 am COURSE FEES R220; Staff and students R110
Initially it was thought that recovery from Covid-19 would take around two weeks. However, Long Covid, the post-viral syndrome of Covid-19, emerged as patients continued presenting with symptoms, months and even years after their initial infection. The syndrome is characterised by debilitating fatigue and a generalised difficulty with thinking effectively, often described as brain fog.
Long Covid remains mysterious. This is in part due to the difficulty in identifying an overt pathological cause, but also the complexity of understanding how organic changes result in psychological symptoms such as mental fatigue, memory problems, emotional issues, and difficulty in focusing.
The first lecture will discuss Long Covid, its controversial history and prevailing ideas regarding the brain changes that result in its symptoms. The second lecture will focus on the results and implications of a recent neuropsychological study of Long Covid.
Although implications for the treatment of Long Covid will be discussed, this course does not offer clinical advice for those afflicted with Long Covid.
Lecture titles
- What is Long Covid: why is it ‘neuropsychological’?
- Fatigue, psychiatric symptoms and cognitive dysfunction in Long Covid
Recommended reading
https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-10-18-getting-to-grips-with-long-covid-and-the-gender- biases-that-skew-medical-diagnoses/
Health professionals can earn CPD points for this course.
TO BOOK: https://www.webtickets.co.za/v2/performance.aspx?itemid=1554929220