Dutch Survey Data Shows Significant Increase In Memory And Concentration Problems Among Adults Since Start Of Covid-19 Pandemic

Dr. Alan Roth walks to his office at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center in New York, Tuesday, Dec. 29, ... [+] 2020. Dozens of clinics have cropped up around the U.S. to address a puzzling and troubling aspect of COVID-19 — the after-effects that can stubbornly afflict some people weeks or months after the infection

From the outset of the Covid-19 pandemic, a growing contingent of Covid-19 patients whose symptoms were initially mild began facing mysterious neurological problems, both short- and long-term. These include memory and sleep disturbances, dizziness, nerve pain, and what people often refer to as “brain fog.”

Recently published data from the Netherlands suggests that among people ages 25 and up, memory and concentration problems have risen by 24% since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. According to an ongoing large-scale research survey conducted by the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) and the Netherlands Institute for Health Care Research (NIVEL), there has been a 31% increase in primary care visits by adults ages 25 to 44 for “memory and concentration problems” in the past three years. Among the 45 to 74 year-old group, there was a 40% jump in visits to the doctor for these specific complaints. And, in the 75 and up age group, there was an 18% rise in physician visits.

The data was released as part of the latest quarterly research update (the seventh round of an ongoing study) from the GOR Network, which since 2021, in partnership with the RIVM and NIVEL, has been tracking the short- and long-term effects of the Covid-19 pandemic in the Netherlands. The quarterly survey is based on both questionnaires sent to patients and primary care physician records. Between March 13th and 27th of this year, 7,838 adults (25 and older) completed a questionnaire about their mental and physical health. Respondents included adults with and without a history of a confirmed coronavirus infection. Further, the GOR Network examined data gathered from 380 primary care physician clinics with approximately 1.6 million registered patients (9% of the Dutch population). Physicians recorded data on all symptoms and conditions for which patients presented at their practice. After being uploaded to a database, this information was analyzed by researchers at the GOR Network.

Under normal circumstances, people ages 75 and above would be most likely to go to their doctor with complaints about their memory or inability to concentrate. And adults in the age group of, say, 25 to 44, would be relatively unlikely to visit their primary care physician for such symptoms. What’s remarkable is that the findings showed the opposite of what one would have expected. While the number of physician visits for memory and concentration problems increased in all age groups among adults ages 25 years and up, the smallest increase was seen among adults 75 and older: 18%. And researchers observed no increase in visits among “young people,” or those under 25.

Professor Dückers, who leads the research on behalf of RIVM and NIVEL, says it’s a “worrying development … We still don’t know much about the long-term effects, but the picture is now emerging that the pandemic can lead to faster aging on a significant scale.”

The possible causes of the increase in memory and concentration problems are unclear. A plausible explanation is that the isolation brought about by Covid-19 restrictions contributed to accelerated cognitive decline among people who were already starting to have problems with memory and concentration.

Experts posit, however, that long Covid is likely to blame for the majority of sufferers. Since 2020, numerous investigations have shown that memory and concentration problems are common post-Covid symptoms. Other infectious diseases, such as flu, can also cause these symptoms. But studies have demonstrated that long-term memory and concentration problems are much more common after being infected with Covid-19 than following a bout with influenza. Specifically, people struggling with the effects of long Covid can exhibit problems with attention, memory, and executive function.

What is referred to in everyday parlance as “brain fog” includes cognitive problems such as remembering and concentrating, but also performing daily tasks. Working memory, which is a form of short-term memory, allows people to store and retrieve information while doing daily activities, such as problem solving, reading or having a conversation.

Last year, in a U.K.-based examination, researchers found that being infected with Covid negatively impacted working memory function, but only in adults ages 25 and up. The study findings indicate that memory function can recover over time after a Covid infection, but people with persistent symptoms may continue to have difficulty with their working memory.

In parallel with the GOR Network quarterly survey, the Dutch RIVM had been conducting a long-term investigation on long Covid. The RIVM collected data, both to characterize the syndrome and attempt to figure out what’s causing symptoms.

It’s evident from the work carried out by the RIVM from 2020 to 2022 that a large number of people who contract the coronavirus struggle for months with lingering Covid-19 symptoms which can be debilitating. These include memory and concentration issues, among a wide array of symptoms.

Last year, RIVM posted results derived from a health survey questionnaire taken by a total of 14,572 participants. 9,166 people took the survey shortly after testing positive for SARS-CoV-2. The control group consisted of 5,406 people who tested negative for the coronavirus and applied to take part in the survey or were invited by letter from the general population. RIVM requested that all survey participants fill out questionnaires about their health at intervals of three months.

Fifteen percent of respondents had ongoing “brain fog” which consists of a mixture of memory and concentration problems. What’s striking is that the reported symptoms, including brain fog, are 1.5 times more common among those who had tested positive for Covid-19 than among those who have had other (non Covid-19) respiratory infections, such as influenza.

The most recent Dutch data from the GOR Network point to an alarming increase since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic of nearly a quarter in memory and concentration problems among people ages 25 and up. Brain fog is one of many long Covid symptoms. While there continue to challenges regarding how to precisely define long Covid and how to determine cause and effect, the syndrome isn’t going away. The Dutch Minister of Health Kuipers will soon announce whether (and how much) additional budget will be allocated to government-funded biomedical research into the causes of long Covid.

AI, ML & Data News Roundup: Generative Fill, Copilot, Aria, and Brain Chips

The most recent update, covering the week starting May 22nd, 2023, encompasses the latest progress and declarations in the fields of data science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. This week, the focus is on prominent figures such Adobe, Microsoft, Opera, and the University of Lausanne.

Adobe Has Introduced a New Feature Called Generative Fill In Photoshop

A new generative AI tool for Adobe Photoshop will enable users to swiftly extend photos and add or delete objects using text prompts. Generative Fill is now available in beta, but Adobe claims that a full version of it for Photoshop will come later this year.

Generative Fill utilizes its analysis of the surrounding elements and textures in an image to intelligently generate new pixels and seamlessly integrate them into the existing composition.

This produces visually pleasing and lifelike results, eliminating the need for manual reconstruction and saving users valuable time and effort. An impressive application of Generative Fill is its capability to remove unwanted elements from images. Users can conveniently select distracting objects in a photo and leverage Generative Fill to create visually coherent replacements.

This feature is especially beneficial to photographers, designers, and content creators as it streamlines the editing process while maintaining the overall integrity of the composition.

Microsoft Is Bringing the Power of AI to Windows 11

At Microsoft's Build 2023 conference, several exciting announcements were made.

Windows Copilot was introduced, making Windows 11 the first PC platform to provide centralized AI assistance. This AI-powered feature aims to help users easily accomplish tasks and increase productivity.

Additionally, Bing Chat plugins are being extended to Windows, allowing developers to integrate their applications within Windows Copilot. This integration opens up new possibilities for better customer service and enhanced engagement with native Windows apps.

Another significant development is the introduction of a Hybrid AI loop, which supports AI development across platforms. This innovation enables seamless integration from Azure to client devices, with added silicon support from industry leaders such as AMD, Intel, Nvidia, and Qualcomm.

To further support developers, Microsoft is launching Dev Home, a resource designed to enhance their productivity on Windows.

Lastly, Microsoft is bringing new AI features and immersive experiences to the Microsoft Store on Windows, offering users even more value and convenience.

Opera Reveals Aria, the Integrated AI Browser Feature

Opera introduced Aria, their new browser AI, offering users access to a leading generative AI service at no cost. According to Opera, Aria is seamlessly integrated into the browser, revolutionizing the browsing experience.

Built on Opera’s Composer infrastructure, Aria leverages OpenAI's GPT technology and incorporates additional functionalities, including real-time web results. Aria acts as both a web expert and a browser companion, allowing collaboration with AI while searching for information, generating text or code, or obtaining answers to product-related queries. Opera's Composer infrastructure is designed for seamless expansion.

Aria can connect with multiple AI models and, in the future, integrate additional capabilities such as search services from various Opera partners.

Swiss Researchers Utilize AI to Reconstruct Spinal Cord

Swiss Researchers used artificial intelligence to help Gert-Jan Oskam, who had been paralyzed from the waist down for more than ten years, regain control over his lower body.

Following a motorcycle accident in 2011, Gert-Jan Oskam has been paralyzed from the waist down. However, there has been a recent breakthrough that has enabled him to regain mobility. Scientists have successfully developed a "digital bridge" that connects Oskam's brain and spinal cord, effectively bypassing the damaged areas.

Through the use of an AI thought decoder, the researchers were able to capture Oskam's thoughts and translate them into spinal cord stimulation, thereby restoring voluntary movement. Notably, Oskam has demonstrated signs of neurological recovery, as he is now capable of walking even when the implant is deactivated. This remarkable progress signifies a significant advancement in the field of spinal cord injury rehabilitation.

Warning firms may use brain data to watch workers

Companies in the future may use brain-monitoring technology to watch or hire workers, the data watchdog says.

But there is a real danger of discrimination if "neurotech" is not developed and used properly, the Information Commissioner's Office says.

Workplace monitoring is one of a number of hypothetical future uses of neurotech explored in the report.

It comes as companies such as Elon Musk's Neuralink explore new ways to let computers connect to human brains.

"Based on all the indicators that we're looking at, we're seeing quite rapid growth, both in investments and in patents being developed in this area," the ICO's Stephen Almond told BBC News.

Neurotech is already used in the healthcare sector, where there are strict regulations, the ICO says.

And commercial interest in the technology is growing.

Neuralink has won permission for human trials of its implantable brain-computer interface and is reportedly now worth $5bn (£4bn) though a long way from a commercial product.

Artificial Intelligence is also opening up new possibilities, with research projects now able to decipher sentences and words just from brain scans. This might eventually help patients with locked-in syndrome, who are conscious but cannot move or speak.

But the report focuses on technologies that might emerge in the future, which it uses as hypothetical examples to explore the issues raised by neurodata.

In four to five years, the ICO suggests, "as employee tracking expands, the workplace may routinely deploy neurotechnology for safety, productivity and recruitment".

Helmets or safety equipment might measure the attention and focus of an employee in high risk environments.

And bosses might use it to assess how individuals reacted to workplace stress, Mr Almond said.

In the longer term in education wearable brain monitoring devices might be used to measure students' concentration levels and stress levels.

"Neuromarketing" is already in limited use in small, controlled research settings - with consumers' responses to products assessed using medical devices that measure brain activity - although, there is significant debate about its merits

In the future, "non-invasive devices capable of reading responses may be used at home to tailor consumer preferences", the ICO says.

In one admittedly far-fetched example the report imagines in the future neurotechnology-enabled headphones might gather data used to target advertising.

It also sees growth in gaming and entertainment - some games and drones are already controlled by devices that take readings of the brain.

But the ICO is worried the technology could cause discrimination, unless developed carefully.

The technology itself could be biased, giving incorrect answers when analysing certain groups, Mr Almond said.

But there was also the risk bosses could use it to discriminate against "certain types of more neurodivergent characteristics".

It might reveal conditions of which the subject themselves was unaware.

And it raised tricky questions around consent. Neurodata is subconsciously generated, the report says, and people have no direct control over the specific information which is disclosed.

"If you don't know what the technology is going to reveal about you, can you really consent in advance to the processing of that personal data about you?" Mr Almond said. "Because once it's released into the open, you then have relatively lower control over it."

The ICO hopes to complete new neurodata guidance by 2025.