Can COVID cause memory loss?

Reviewed by Yoshinori Abe, MD

Internal Medicine

Yes, COVID-19 can cause memory problems in some people. Research shows that COVID may affect working memory, short-term recall, and the ability to remember everyday tasks—a symptom often referred to as "brain fog." However, not everyone who contracts COVID experiences these cognitive effects, and severity varies widely from person to person.

Key points about COVID and memory:

COVID can impair working memory and short-term recall
Symptoms may appear during infection or persist as part of long COVID
Brain fog, difficulty concentrating, and forgetfulness are commonly reported
Not all individuals are affected, and many recover over time

If you're noticing memory issues or other lingering symptoms, understanding the cause is the first step toward feeling better. A free, instant, online symptom check can help you identify possible conditions based on your specific symptoms and guide you toward appropriate next steps—whether that's self-care, seeing a doctor, or exploring specialist care. It takes just a few minutes, requires no signup, and gives you personalized insights so you can take informed action about your health today.

Reviewed for medical accuracy: 07/15/2026

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Explanation

Research shows that some people who get Covid-19 might have problems with memory after they get better. Working memory, which helps us hold information in our minds while we use it (like remembering a phone number briefly), can be affected. In several studies, scientists found that people who had Covid-19 sometimes had a harder time with tasks that need good memory skills compared to those who recovered without these issues. This may be because the virus can cause inflammation, which affects the brain. Inflammation might lead to small changes in the brain that make it harder to remember things clearly, and stress or feeling tired while recovering may also add to these problems.

It is important to understand that not everyone who gets Covid-19 experiences memory loss. Some people have only mild changes in their cognitive abilities, and many recover fully over time. If you're experiencing memory issues or other symptoms after recovering from illness, you can check your symptoms with a free AI-powered assessment tool to better understand what might be happening. Researchers are still learning about how long these memory issues last, and if they may go away with time or need extra care.

(References)

Hampshire A, Azor A, Atchison C, Trender W, Hellyer PJ, Giunchiglia V, Husain M, Cooke GS, Cooper E, Lound A, Donnelly CA, Chadeau-Hyam M, Ward H, Elliott P. Cognition and Memory after Covid-19 in a Large Community Sample. N Engl J Med. 2024 Feb 29;390(9):806-818. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2311330. PMID: 38416429; PMCID: PMC7615803.
Serrano Del Pueblo VM, Serrano-Heras G, Romero Sánchez CM, Landete PP, Rojas-Bartolome L, Feria I, Morris RGM, Strange B, Mansilla F, Zhang L, Castro-Robles B, Arias-Salazar L, López-López S, Payá M, Segura T, Muñoz-López M. Brain and cognitive changes in patients with long COVID compared with infection-recovered control subjects. Brain. 2024 Oct 3;147(10):3611-3623. doi: 10.1093/brain/awae101. PMID: 38562097.
Cui R, Gao B, Ge R, Li M, Li M, Lu X, Jiang S. The effects of COVID-19 infection on working memory: a systematic review. Curr Med Res Opin. 2024 Feb;40(2):217-227. doi: 10.1080/03007995.2023.2286312. Epub 2024 Jan 24. PMID: 38008952.

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