Kristin, 30, shortly after becoming infected with Covid, noticed something in conversations with relatives: She was constantly forgetting words. And not a difficult word that he did not pronounce before.
This phenomenon, called lethologica, seems to have become more common as people have increased socialization. Over the past six months, according to Google Trends data, there has been a clash in people asking "why are they forgetting words" t. And as people prepare to return in person to their offices or campuses, the issue of common word sharing takes on a new urgency.
According to neuropsychologist Sanam Hafeez, increased stress levels are to blame for these social disasters.
"Before the pandemic, many people experienced acute stress, which can cause the body to release the stress hormones cortisol and epinephrine, but the pandemic has caused many people to become chronically stressed, which means that these stress hormones are being released into the body. "At a much higher level. Continuous cocktail of cortisol and epinephrine also affects the brain 's ability to think, recall memories and learn new material."
For people who had Covid, this phenomenon could be even deeper. Hafeez points to a study published in January that showed increased levels of cytokines (molecules that cause inflammation) in the fluid surrounding the brain in people with cancer, even weeks after the Covid infection cleared up.
"This may have contributed to the 'fog' of the brain. Other components, such as lack of sleep, stress, anxiety or changes in diet, can also lead to lethologica," Hafeez explains.
"I can say with confidence that in May, right after I was getting my strength from Covid, I could see the words in my head, but I had a delay or difficulty in explaining what I was thinking," says Diegnan, 32. , a real estate agent.
Kelly Elizabeth, a sociolinguist, also talks about "anomie":
"Anomie, which is a difficulty in getting familiar words, can occur as a symptom of exhaustion, certain illnesses or depression - all of which interfere with the regular ignition of neurons in the lingual centers of the brain."
She adds that the pandemic has caused people to experience those symptoms on a much larger scale. And with increasing social interaction over the summer, there is a focus on a state that has long existed.
If you find that you are forgetting too often the words you need to know, talk to your doctor. To train the memory, deal with games like Sudoku, crossword puzzles, etc.
Source: Bustle
