Even Mild COVID Infections Can Have Lasting Impacts Like ‘Chemo Brain,' Study Finds - NBC New York

"Taken together, the findings presented here underscore profound multi-cellular dysregulation in the brain caused by even mild respiratory SARS-CoV-2 infection," the researchers summarized in their discussion.

Much of the data in the study comes from earlier in the pandemic, and scientists say it's still not clear what long-term impact the omicron variant, for example, will have on people.

"The incidence and severity of cognitive impairment following COVID-19 caused by newer SARS-CoV-2 variants such as the Omicron variant, or as a result of breakthrough infection in vaccinated individuals, remains to be determined," they noted