How Functional Neurology Restores Brain Health After COVID

Last updated: October 2025

Many people believe that “post-COVID brain fog” is just a minor annoyance. However, research now shows that COVID-19 can cause real, measurable damage to the brain—damage that affects memory, focus, balance, and even emotional stability. For some, it feels like early dementia. For others, it becomes a daily battle just to think clearly. Fortunately, the brain has an incredible ability to heal. Through Functional Neurology, those damaged pathways can be repaired, allowing true recovery—not just coping.

How COVID-19 Damages the Brain

COVID doesn’t stop at the lungs. Studies from Nature and The Lancet confirm that even mild infections can trigger inflammation and loss of brain tissue. This inflammation attacks the hippocampus—the part of the brain responsible for memory—and the frontal lobes, which control decision-making and concentration.

Many patients report that their personality feels different after COVID. They struggle to remember words, feel more emotional, or can’t plan their day like they used to. This isn’t “just aging”—it’s the result of neurological disruption caused by inflammation, lack of oxygen, and metabolic damage. In some cases, scans reveal actual shrinkage in areas linked to memory and focus.

Functional Neurology: A Different Way to Heal the Brain

Traditional medicine has few solutions for post-COVID brain symptoms. Patients are often told to “give it time” or are prescribed antidepressants, which do nothing to repair the damaged neural circuits. Functional Neurology takes a completely different approach. Instead of waiting for recovery, it activates the brain’s built-in healing system—called neuroplasticity.

Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to create new connections and rebuild lost ones. It’s how stroke patients learn to walk again, and it’s the same process that helps people regain memory and focus after COVID. Through targeted brain exercises, light stimulation, and sensory retraining, Functional Neurology “re-teaches” the brain how to function normally again.

The Three Steps to Brain Recovery After COVID

At The Carroll Institute, Dr. Garland Glenn uses a proven, structured approach that combines Functional Neurology with the ReCODE Program—the only program scientifically shown to reverse cognitive decline. This process includes three essential steps.

Step 1: Identify the Root Causes

Post-COVID brain dysfunction often results from multiple underlying problems. We start with advanced testing to uncover what’s driving the decline. This includes inflammation markers, oxygen metabolism, hormone panels, and mycotoxin screenings. By pinpointing exactly what’s wrong, we can create a personalized recovery plan that addresses your unique combination of causes.

Step 2: Reduce Inflammation and Restore Function

Once we understand your root causes, we begin restoring balance. This includes anti-inflammatory nutrition, detoxification, and hormone balancing. But that’s only half the equation. The other half involves retraining your brain through customized neurological exercises—targeted drills that stimulate weak neural networks and rebuild lost pathways. For example, exercises might include visual tracking, balance work, or sensory reactivation, all designed specifically for your pattern of dysfunction.

Step 3: Rebuild Cognitive Strength

As inflammation decreases, we focus on long-term brain resilience. Functional Neurology exercises strengthen the areas that control focus, memory, and coordination. Using Photobiomodulation therapy and neurofeedback, we enhance communication between brain regions and support healthy energy production. Over time, the brain rewires itself, forming new pathways that support lasting recovery.

Real Changes You Can See and Feel

Many patients notice progress within weeks—clearer thinking, better focus, and less fatigue. Others take a few months, depending on how much inflammation or damage occurred. Because Functional Neurology works with your body’s natural ability to heal, progress continues as long as you stay consistent. Patients who once struggled to finish sentences often return to work, manage daily tasks, and feel like themselves again.

"COVID doesn’t just cause brain fog—it can hijack your brain’s energy systems. Functional Neurology gives the brain the stimulation and nutrients it needs to come back online.”

— Dr. Garland Glenn

Why Early Treatment Matters

The sooner brain rehabilitation begins, the faster the recovery. COVID-related brain inflammation and oxygen deprivation can quietly destroy neurons over time. Delaying care makes those changes harder to reverse. That’s why it’s critical to act quickly if you notice memory loss, confusion, or changes in concentration. The brain can heal, but it needs the right stimulation and support to do it.

Scientific Support for Functional Neurology and Brain Recovery

• Douaud G. et al. SARS-CoV-2 is associated with changes in brain structure. Nature, 2022.
• Taquet M. et al. 6-month neurological and psychiatric outcomes in COVID-19 survivors. The Lancet Psychiatry, 2022.
• Bredesen DE, et al. Sustained Cognitive Improvement in Alzheimer’s Disease Patients Following a Precision Medicine Program. Biomedicines, 2024.
• Carrick FR. Changes in Brain Activation Following Functional Neurology Intervention. Functional Neurology, Rehabilitation, and Ergonomics, 2016.

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Medically reviewed by Dr. Garland Glenn, DC, PhD, AFMC (Advanced Functional Medicine Clinician)
The Carroll Institute — Sarasota, FL
About Dr. Garland Glenn
For educational purposes only; not a substitute for medical advice.