Episode 56: Dr Jim Jackson - Clearing the Fog

Our bodies may be failing us but when our brains betray us it’s like we really do loose ourselves. Alongside diagnosis of anxiety, depression, PTSD and OCD, Long Covid sufferers are struggling to remember things, to articulate ourselves, to focus, to perform basic daily tasks and to solve problems. It is the cherry on the Long Covid cake. The neurological issues in Long Covid have a major impact on our daily lives, especially when it comes to employment and family life, affecting our ability to work, and therefore pay for healthcare, to care for families and to maintain relationships.

Dr. James “Jim” Jackson is a Research Professor of Medicine and Psychiatry at Vanderbilt at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the Director of Long-Term Outcomes at the Critical Illness, Brain Dysfunction, and Survivorship (CIBS) Center. He has treated many Long Covid patients, addressing their neurological issues with his wealth of knowledge.

Jackson's new book, Clearing the Fog, is a practical guide for Long Covid patients and their families, giving advice on how to find help, information on treatments and strategies for dealing with symptoms.

In the interview he is clear to state that we are suffering from actual injury to our brains. “People with cognitive problems and Long Covid… are fitting a brain injury model, because I think that model fits the best. And I think it's a very hopeful framing… what I mean by that is there are people with brain injuries around the world today who are receiving treatment, cognitive rehab, they're getting better, they're doing better, they're functioning. I think brain injury is a thoughtful way to think about this…There's been some preliminary research and some early efforts to use things like mild traumatic brain injury treatment models, post concussive syndrome treatment models, and I think the early returns are pretty positive… more brain injury than brain fog. And I think that's really where I stand with this. ”

He outlines the ways in which he uses group talking therapies to provide tools to help people cope with their cognitive issues, and the way we can help ourselves with simple brain training activities to improve brain function.

He believes Wordle could be helpful. Splendid!