Carbon monoxide poisoning can cause memory damage that lasts a long time and may not fully go away in some cases. The gas stops oxygen from reaching the brain and other body parts by binding to hemoglobin in the blood and forming carboxyhemoglobin.[1] This lack of oxygen harms brain cells right away and can lead to bigger problems over time.
People exposed to carbon monoxide often feel headaches dizziness nausea and trouble thinking clearly at first.[1][7] In the hours after breathing it in they might lose balance have blurry vision or struggle with memory.[1] These signs come from cells dying because they cannot get oxygen.[1]
Worse cases bring bigger risks. Survivors sometimes face brain damage heart issues and memory loss that sticks around.[1][4] Doctors link it to worsening memory concentration problems and even Parkinson like symptoms.[1][4][8] One big worry is delayed neuropsychiatric syndrome where brain issues like memory trouble show up days or weeks later and last for months.[3][4][6]
Why does this happen? Carbon monoxide acts like a poison to brain cells causing swelling stress on cells and damage to parts like the hippocampus which handles memory.[2][4] It sparks swelling fires up bad chemicals and breaks down brain protectors leading to lasting harm.[2] Studies show dead brain cells and broken nerve paths in areas key for thinking and recall.[4]
Not everyone gets permanent damage. Quick treatment helps a lot. For example hyperbaric oxygen therapy pushes extra oxygen into the blood to fix the lack and cut risks of long term brain fog or memory gaps.[4][6] Still in bad poisonings where people pass out or stay confused the harm to memory can be hard to reverse because brain cells die for good.[3][4][6]
Kids and pregnant women face higher chances of drawn out effects since their bodies handle the poison less well.[3] Low level exposure over time also builds up trouble with focus memory and mood which people often mix up with stress or sickness.[2]
Sources
https://www.warmzilla.co.uk/blog/carbon-monoxide-and-its-dangers
https://www.akwellnesslounge.com/blog/carbon-monoxide-exposure-amp-the-emerging-role-of-methylene-blue-in-recovery
https://www.oreateai.com/blog/how-long-do-carbon-monoxide-poisoning-symptoms-last/cf09bd14f56fa2a2da5ab433ecec0147
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12728989/
https://www.originoxygen.co.uk/conditions/hyperbaric-oxygen-therapy-for-carbon-monoxide-poisoning/
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-12-holiday-carbon-monoxide-families.html
https://www.medanta.org/patient-education-blog/carbon-monoxide-poisoning-symptoms-prevention
