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Do gut symptoms impact brain function in COVID-19 patients?
Summary:
Patients with COVID-19 who present with gastrointestinal symptoms are at a higher risk of developing cognitive problems.
Megari, K. et al., (2025) summarised by Hannah Bissell
Introduction
COVID-19 infection can attack multiple organs of the body, including the brain and the gastrointestinal system (gut). Previous scientific studies have found that COVID-19 patients who report gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea or constipation, loss of appetite, and weight loss, had more problems with brain function (thinking and memory).
Neurocognitive function means the brain can perform tasks such as attention and memory. Neurocognitive dysfunction means having problems with memory, attention, or thinking skills, making it harder to concentrate, remember things, or process information. The authors of the study aimed to assess whether hospitalised COVID-19 patients, with gastrointestinal symptoms during the severe phase of COVID-19, had a greater likelihood of developing neurocognitive dysfunction after being discharged compared to patients without gastrointestinal symptoms.
Summary
The study enrolled 97 patients hospitalised with mild to moderate COVID-19. The participants were divided into two groups: 50 patients with gastrointestinal symptoms and 47 patients without gastrointestinal symptoms. Cognitive function was assessed by a clinical neuropsychologist three months after hospital admission, and a positive COVID-19 test. Overall, 92 patients were able to complete the follow up. Patients with gastrointestinal symptoms performed worse in the cognitive tests compared to patients without gastrointestinal symptoms. Lower performance was found in long-term memory, short-term memory, attention, complex scanning, visual and spatial awareness, and other neuropsychological tasks. It is suggested that the gut-brain interaction may be disrupted in COVID-19 due to increased inflammation, changes in gut bacteria, and psychological stress.
Conclusion
COVID-19 patients with gastrointestinal symptoms may experience problems with memory, attention, and thinking. Monitoring cognitive function in these patients is important, and early detection and intervention are crucial to prevent long-term cognitive damage. More studies with larger sample sizes and broader inclusion criteria are needed to better understand the link between gastrointestinal symptoms and brain function, to guide effective care. Patients with COVID-19 who present with gastrointestinal symptoms are at higher risk of developing cognitive problems.
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