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Hindustan Times
14-07-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Physician explains brain fog isn't just fatigue: Here's what post Covid 19 patients should know
Back in October 2020, amid the Covid-19 pandemic, The New York Times reported that brain fog is defined by memory loss, confusion, difficulty focusing, dizziness, and even having trouble speaking everyday words. In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Anand Kalaskar, general physician, Apollo Clinic, Nigdi explained how brain fog can have detrimental impacts on everyday life. Also read | Say goodbye to brain fog: Diet plan for sharper focus, memory and mental clarity Brain fog is a common condition characterised by cognitive impairment such as difficulty concentrating, memory issues, and decreased mental clarity, among others. (Pexels) What is brain fog and what are its symptoms? Dr Kalaskar said, 'Brain fog is a nonprofessional term commonly used to describe a set of cognitive symptoms that include lapses in memory, difficulty with concentration, mental sluggishness, and reduced thought clarity.' This brain fog reportedly affects people who have had mild Covid-19 symptoms as well as those who experienced severe symptoms — it ranges. Dr Kalaskar added, 'In post-Covid-19 patients, brain fog is typically presented as forgetfulness, word-finding difficulty, slowing of processing speed, or persistent mental fatigue. The patients experience themselves as working in a fog and having difficulty focusing or getting things done effectively. The symptoms persist for weeks or months after recovery from acute infection.' Brain fog vs tiredness According to Dr Kalaskar, benign tiredness or fatigue usually resolves with rest, is not notably impairing cognition, and is generally nonspecific. Conversely, he said, neurological impairment from Covid-19 'usually includes objective cognitive impairments such as compromised memory, attentional impairment, disorientation, or executive dysfunction'. 'Clinically, if a patient presents with persistent cognitive impairment interfering with work or activities of daily living, particularly if these are accompanied by headache, dizziness, sleep, or mood change, neurological assessment is warranted. Even in patients with mild illness, brain fog can occur, and so complaints of cognition should not be written off as simple tiredness,' Dr Kalaskar said. Dr Kalaskar added that post-Covid-19, brain fog has been thought to be due to prolonged neuroinflammation provoked by a hyperimmune reaction to infection. 'Microvascular damage – micro clots or endothelial dysfunction – has also been thought to incapacitate oxygen and nutrient supply to brain tissue. Central nervous system invasion by the virus, blood-brain barrier disruption, and autonomic nervous system dysregulation have also been proposed. Mental issues like anxiety, depression, and post-viral fatigue also add to these symptoms,' he said. Can you get tested for brain fog? Dr Kalaskar shared that neurologists resort to 'a combination of clinical evaluation, cognitive screening tests, and imaging when necessary'. Routine tests are the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) or Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) for memory, attention, and executive function, he said. 'In some cases, more detailed neuropsychological testing is indicated. MRI or functional MRI can be advised to exclude structural changes or vascular illness. Blood tests for inflammatory markers, thyroid function, vitamin B12, and D-dimer can be used to exclude other etiologies. Referral to a multidisciplinary long Covid-19 clinic may be indicated in severe or prolonged cases,' Dr Kalaskar said. Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
India Today
09-07-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Committee on air safety flags non-implementation of past regulatory recommendations
At a crucial meeting of the Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture on air safety held Wednesday, several members raised concerns over the "non-implementation of previous recommendations" made by the panel on civil aviation oversight, sources said. The meeting, held at Parliament Annexe, was attended by top officials from the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA), Airports Authority of India (AAI), Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), and senior representatives from airline operators including Air India, IndiGo, and chopper service told India Today that prior to the meeting, some committee members had planned to directly question the Civil Aviation Secretary and MoCA officials about the Air India 171 crash, seeking details on what led to the incident, how far the investigation had progressed, and when the central question - why the crash occurred - would be answered. According to sources, the members also intended to seek updates on the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau's (AAIB) preliminary findings and whether they would be made public Standing Committee, chaired by JD(U) MP Sanjay Jha, convened with the stated agenda of "an overall review of civil aviation sector safety", but the June 12 Air India crash in Ahmedabad took centre stage during crash involved flight AI 171, which slammed into the BJ Medical College hostel building just seconds after take-off, killing 260 people - 241 passengers and crew onboard, and 19 on the Wednesday's meeting focused on oversight and systemic issues, air safety had already become a contentious issue during the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) meeting on Tuesday. Though originally intended to address airport levy charges, the PAC session turned into a charged discussion on aviation safety post-AI said PAC members pressed aviation authorities about oversight gaps, urged an audit by BCAS, and raised questions over increasing safety incidents in May and June. Lawmakers also flagged a surge in airfares following the Pahalgam terror attack as another sign of regulatory India CEO Wilson Campbell, along with top MoCA, DGCA, AERA, AAI and BCAS officials, attended the PAC meeting and defended the Boeing 787 Dreamliner involved in the crash. Air India stated the aircraft was among the safest in the world, with over 1,000 Dreamliners currently in operation after the PAC meeting, former Civil Aviation Minister and PAC member Praful Patel highlighted a shortage of skilled senior personnel at DGCA and recommended that retired officials be brought back on short tenures to plug the gap."Safety is paramount. Anyone who flies wants to be safe and assured that they will reach their destination. Many events took place in the wake of the Air India crash. Obviously, when a crash happens, everything is taken with sensitivity," Patel added, "Indian aviation is safe, and we don't need to panic. All airlines, including Air India, follow all safety protocols. DGCA is well equipped and does a very good job. However, DGCA needs to have more people. It is facing a shortage of staff at the top level, of skilled people. Retired officials can be brought back to deal with this understaffing and ensure safety standards are fully compliant at the earliest. Maybe an audit of the entire sector or all the aircraft should be done at the earliest so that passenger confidence is restored."- EndsMust Watch
India Today
08-07-2025
- Business
- India Today
Top officials present, MPs ask pointed questions on Air India crash, black box
A parliamentary panel meeting that was scheduled to discuss "levy charges at airports" saw intense discussions about the Air India crash incident in Ahmedabad, which left 260 dead. At the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), MPs asked aviation officials pointed questions about safety and sought an audit by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), sources meeting was attended by top officials from the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA), Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the India CEO Wilson Campbell and top officials from IndiGo and Akasa Air, as well as industry stakeholders were also present. BLACK BOX, CRASH COMMITTEE PROBE At the meeting, the MPs sought clarity on the timeframe for the analysis of the aircraft's black box, which will provide an in-depth insight into what led to the June 12, the London-bound Air India flight (AI 171) crashed into the BJ Medical College hostel building in Ahmedabad within seconds of take-off. The tragedy left 260 people, including 241 passengers and crew on board and 19 others on the ground, MPs also sought details on the selection criteria of the crash probe committee and asked whether any foreign aviation experts had been consulted or had volunteered to assist in the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), which is probing the horrific crash, submitted its preliminary findings to the MoCA on were also raised about the "high-handed behaviour" of private airlines, with calls for tighter oversight, sources MPs also flagged several incidents of safety lapses in May and June. In the past two months, several instances of flights being cancelled or diverted due to technical malfunction have been IN AIR FARESThe MPs also expressed displeasure over the functioning of the DGCA, which is tasked with ensuring compliance of airlines with aviation March, a Parliament committee report said the allocation to the DGCA, which commands nearly half of the total aviation budget, must be carefully examined to ensure "efficiency and accountability".The MPs also expressed their discontent over the surge in air fares from Srinagar after the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, which left 25 tourists hours of the attack, ticket prices for flights out of Srinagar - especially to Delhi and other metros - spiked dramatically. Ticket prices for an economy seat from Srinagar to Delhi reportedly surged to Rs 65,000, up from the usual Rs 7,000-8,000.- EndsMust Watch
News18
04-07-2025
- Business
- News18
IndiGo Appoints Ex-NITI Aayog CEO, G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant As Director
Last Updated: IndiGo on Thursday announced the appointment of former NITI Aayog CEO and India's G20 Sherpa, Amitabh Kant, as a Director on its Board IndiGo on Thursday announced the appointment of former NITI Aayog CEO and India's G20 Sherpa, Amitabh Kant, as a Director on its Board. The appointment, however, remains subject to shareholder approval and security clearance from the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA). In an exchange filing, the airline stated, 'The Board of Directors at its meeting held today, July 3, 2025, approved the appointment of Mr. Amitabh Kant (DIN: 00222708) as a Director, effective from the date of receipt of security clearance from MoCA. The appointment is also subject to the approval of the shareholders of the Company." Kant recently concluded his three-year tenure as India's G20 Sherpa on June 16, during which he played a pivotal role in shaping India's global economic diplomacy and G20 presidency. A veteran bureaucrat with over four decades of service, he previously served as CEO of NITI Aayog and held several key roles across ministries. Following his exit from public service, Kant expressed his desire to contribute to India's growth story in new ways. 'After 45 years of dedicated service to the Government, I have decided to embrace new opportunities and begin a new chapter," he wrote in a social media post, thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his support. Soon after stepping down, on June 27, Fairfax Financial Holdings appointed Kant as a senior adviser to support its India-focused strategic initiatives. First Published: July 04, 2025, 07:43 IST
Hindustan Times
29-06-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Agencies plan facial recognition feature in CCTVs for airport staff
New Delhi Senior officials from all agencies involved in aviation sector held a meeting on Saturday to discuss ways to enhance security at the airports, protection of VIPs, holding unified training of personnel at the airport while making air travel seamless and also passenger friendly, CISF said in a statement. Agencies plan facial recognition feature in CCTVs for airport staff The agencies deliberated upon having facial recognition features for passengers for quicker check in and a similar entry for vehicles with their fast tags and automatic number plate recognition facilities at airports. 'This workshop focused on making airport security not just stronger, but also more efficient and passenger-friendly,' DIG (Int) of the CISF, Ajay Dahiya said. Detailing some of the key takeaways, Dahiya said,'The discussions revolved around integrating facial recognition with airport entry passes (Biometric AEP) and CCTVs, along with ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) and Fast Tag integration for vehicles. This means potentially faster entry into the airport and quicker processing at security checkpoints, reducing queues and wait time. Digitised standard operating procedures (SOPs) will also lead to smarter and quicker responses to any security concerns.' The workshop was attended by senior officials of the CISF, airport security chiefs from across 69 airports and representatives from key organisations like the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), Airport Authority of India (AAI), Delhi Police, Bureau of Immigration (BOI), Special Protection Group (SPG), National Security Guard (NSG), Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) and airline representatives. The CISF said that another issue discussed in the meeting was security of VIPs and other special guests at the airport. 'Enhanced VIP security protocols were a major point of discussion, including advanced anti-drone strategies and robust insider threat checks. The concept of layered protection will ensure that high-profile individuals can travel with the utmost safety, while striving to minimise any impact on general airport operations. These specialised protocols ensure the highest level of safety for VIPs,' Dahiya said. The officer also said that the agencies have not only resolved to hold unified training for all personnel, including aircraft crew but also open more Aviation Security Training Institutes (ASTIs) in smaller cities to prepare for the growing demand in air travel. CISF in a statement said that in the workshop, the deliberations focused on refining the understanding of threat and using technology. 'This includes integration of artificial intelligence in data analysis for gaining insights and anticipating security risks before they actually occur. The emphasis was on the mindful utilisation of technology to ensure optimal results, meaning faster and smarter checks without compromising safety. This could translate into reduced waiting times and a quicker passage through security checkpoints,' CISF statement said.
