Brain and cognitive changes in patients with long COVID compared with infection-recovered control subjects

• DOI: 10.1093/brain/awae101
• Publication Date: 2024-04-01T23:12:11Z
• Authors: Víctor M Serrano ...; Gemma Serrano-Heras; Carlos M Romero S...; Pepa Piqueras Lan...; Laura Rojas-Barto...; Inmaculada Feria; Richard G M Morris; Bryan Strange; Francisco Mansilla; Linda Zhang; Beatriz Castro-Ro...; Lourdes Arias-Sal...; Susana López-López; María Payá; Tomás Segura; Mónica Muñoz-López
• Keywords: Verbal fluency test; Grey matter; Cognitive Decline

Between 2.5 and 28% of people infected with SARS-CoV-2 suffer Long COVID or persistence symptoms for months after acute illness. Many are neurological, but the brain changes underlying neuropsychological impairments remain unclear. This study aimed to provide a detailed description cognitive profile, pattern alterations in potential association between them. To address these objectives, 83 patients persistent neurological COVID-19 were recruited, 22 now healthy controls chosen because they had suffered did not experience symptoms. Patients matched age, sex educational level. All participants assessed by clinical interview, comprehensive standardized tests structural MRI. The mean global function ACE III screening test (Overall Cognitive level - OCLz= -0.39± 0.12) was significantly below infection recovered-controls (OCLz= +0.32± 0.16, p< 0.01). We observed that 48% episodic memory deficit, 27% also impaired overall function, especially attention, working memory, processing speed verbal fluency. MRI examination included grey matter morphometry whole connectivity analysis. Compared recovered controls, thinner cortex specific cluster centred on left posterior superior temporal gyrus. In addition, lower fractional anisotropy (FA) higher radial diffusivity (RD) widespread areas patients' cerebral white relative controls. Correlations status abnormalities revealed relationship altered regions attention shows changes, several areas, associated functions.