Atelopus-zeteki , 4 days ago

Something not considered in this paper, Post Viral Syndromes, may also be a factor. Though some acknowledgement of post viral syndromes dates to at least the 1950's, it's only with the COVID19 pandemic that modern medicine has really begun to take a look at this with some seriousness. These PVS's can affect many organs in the body, specifically the nervous system, and including cognition.

Evidence for Biological Age Acceleration and Telomere Shortening in COVID-19 Survivors
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22116151

Long COVID as a Tauopathy: Of “Brain Fog” and “Fusogen Storms”
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241612648

Mounting research shows that COVID–19 leaves its mark on the brain, including with significant drops in IQ scores
https://theconversation.com/mounting-research-shows-that-covid-19-leaves-its-mark-on-the-brain-including-with-significant-drops-in-iq-scores-224216