Long-Term Cognitive Function Among Critical Illness Survivors

Crit Care Clin. 2025 Jan;41(1):41-52. doi: 10.1016/j.ccc.2024.08.007. Epub 2024 Sep 20.

Abstract

Cognitive impairment is common after critical illness and persists beyond the period of acute illness. Clinicians caring for this patient population are encouraged to screen for cognitive impairment and provide supportive measures to mitigate its distressing effects. Further research is needed to evaluate the laboratory and neuroimaging correlates of post-intensive care unit (ICU) cognitive impairment, which may in turn lead to personalized interventions to address this debilitating complication of critical illness. Further research is needed to evaluate the laboratory and neuroimaging correlates of post-ICU cognitive impairment, which may, in turn, lead to personalized interventions to address this debilitating complication of critical illness.

Keywords: Cognition; Critical illness; Neuropsychological impairment; Post-ICU syndrome (PICS).

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Cognitive Dysfunction* / etiology
  • Cognitive Dysfunction* / physiopathology
  • Critical Illness* / psychology
  • Humans
  • Intensive Care Units
  • Survivors* / psychology