COVID-19 made our brains age faster: « COVID-19 is leaving all kinds of legacies on our health, both on our bodies and our brains. Researchers report that living through the pandemic aged our brains—whether or not you were infected with COVID-19. »
## Did COVID-19 Make Our Brains Older? 😬 (Spoiler: Maybe)
So, I stumbled across something kind of alarming today: Apparently, living through the whole COVID-19 pandemic might have aged our brains a bit. Yikes!
I saw it in a Reddit post, which linked to a Time article about some research on the topic. And honestly, it makes a weird kind of sense.
Think about it. For a couple of years, we were all dealing with:
* Constant stress and anxiety
* Isolation and loneliness
* Disrupted routines
* Fear of getting sick (or making loved ones sick)
That’s a LOT for anyone to handle.
### It’s Not Just If You Got Sick
The really interesting (and slightly scary) part is that the research suggests this brain aging happened *whether or not* you actually *got* COVID-19. It seems just living through the pandemic itself was enough to have an impact.
Now, I’m not a scientist or anything. But it makes me wonder about all the long-term effects of the past few years. We were so focused on the immediate health crisis, maybe we didn’t fully realize the toll it was taking on our mental well-being.
### What Can We Do About It?
Okay, so the news isn’t great. But what now? Well, I think the first step is just being aware of it. Knowing that our brains might have been a little stressed out can help us be kinder to ourselves.
Here are a few ideas that spring to mind:
* **Prioritize Self-Care:** Now more than ever, take time for things that make you feel good. Read a book, go for a walk, talk to a friend.
* **Exercise Your Brain:** Keep your mind active with puzzles, learning new skills, or just engaging in conversations.
* **Stay Connected:** Fight isolation by making an effort to connect with people you care about.
* **Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help:** If you’re feeling overwhelmed or struggling, talk to a therapist or counselor.
Look, we all went through something pretty intense. And it’s okay if we’re still feeling the effects. Let’s just take care of ourselves and each other. Our brains will thank us for it!