Neurologist Jamyllo Sales warns COVID-19 worsens memory loss and Alzheimer risk

The COVID‑19 pandemic has been linked to a rise in cognitive problems, including early‑onset forgetting and an intensified risk of Alzheimer’s disease, according to neurologist Jamyllo Sales. He explained that the virus can reach the brain via the olfactory bulb, triggering neuroinflammation that may lead to neurodegeneration and memory impairment.

Sales emphasized that anxiety, stress from prolonged isolation, and other mental‑health disorders such as depression and ADHD also contribute to memory issues. He urged clinicians to distinguish normal age‑related forgetting from early signs of Alzheimer’s to ensure appropriate treatment, noting that even younger individuals are showing increased cognitive complaints after the collective trauma of the pandemic.