Has COVID-19 Slowed us Down?

I recently read that COVID-19 has left broader, lingering effects on the population. Research shows that many people who’ve had COVID-19 are now more prone to illness and recurrent health issues. However, these cases don’t qualify as long COVID, where symptoms persist over a prolonged period after infection.

In a flash, it dawned on me: from a certain perspective, COVID-19 has slowed us down—delaying recovery, tampering with our immune systems, affecting cognitive function, and reducing our capacity to adapt and manage change. And this is happening at a time when we need adaptability the most.

While our evolutionary pace has slowed, technology continues to accelerate the rate of environmental change. In my mind’s eye, I could see how the conflict between biology and culture is worsening, rather than closing.

I’m not a scientist but a practitioner. I hear from my patients how they feel less resilient and more prone to illness without a clear reason. They regularly develop musculoskeletal problems and other health issues, including mental health struggles, without fully understanding why.

Could it be that our biological resistance has slowed, while our stress response becomes more active in defence?

References
Ma, Y., Deng, J., Liu, Q., Du, M., Liu, M., & Liu, J. (2022). Long-Term Consequences of COVID-19 at 6 Months and Above: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. International journal of environmental research and public health, 19(11), 6865. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19116865
Li, Z., Zhang, Z., Zhang, Z., Wang, Z., & Li, H. (2023). Cognitive impairment after long COVID-19: current evidence and perspectives. Frontiers in neurology, 14, 1239182. https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2023.1239182
Li, H., Zhuang, S., Lin, Y., Huang, M., Zhang, W., Zhang, X., Lin, Y., & Zhang, C. (2024). The impact of COVID-19 infection on musculoskeletal pain and its associating factors: a cross-sectional study. Frontiers in public health, 12, 1422659. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1422659