The Relationship between Brain Fog Levels In Individuals with COVID-19 and Mediterranean Diet: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objective: Post-illness complications are observed in individuals who have had a COVID-19 infection. Although many recover without lasting effects, some continue to experience cognitive impairments. A common symptom observed in many patients following COVID-19 infection is brain fog. The Mediterranean diet is effective in improving brain functions. The primary aim of this cross-sectional study is to examine the potential relationship between the severity of brain fog and adherence to the Mediterranean diet. Methods: A total of 314 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 at Zonguldak Atatürk State Hospital between 2020 and 2022 were included in this study. The study was conducted between April and June 2024 with individuals aged 19 to 65. Participants were surveyed via telephone interviews, and data on sociodemographic characteristics, dietary habits, and anthropometric measurements were collected. They also completed the Brain Fog Scale (30 items, three dimensions; cognitive symptoms: 17–85, physical symptoms: 8–40, psychological symptoms: 5–25, total score: 30–150) and the Mediterranean Diet Quality Index (≤5: low adherence; 6–9: moderate adherence; ≥9: high adherence). Results: The average Mediterranean diet quality score was 4.9±2.3 for women and 4.2±2.1 for men (p=0.04). The majority of participants (67.8%) had a low Mediterranean diet score. The average Brain Fog Scale scores were 34.5±10.7 for cognitive symptoms, 18.8±6.9 for physical symptoms, and 9.7±4.1 for psychological symptoms. A significant negative correlation was found between physical symptom scores and Mediterranean diet quality scores (r=-0.169; p=0.001). Conclusion: Lifestyle and dietary habits appear to play an important role in alleviating brain fog symptoms observed in the post-COVID-19 period. In this context, improving adherence to the Mediterranean diet may contribute particularly to the reduction of physical symptoms.