Olfactory Dysfunction, Headache, and Mental Clouding in Adults with Long-COVID-19: What Is the Link between Cognition and Olfaction? A Cross-Sectional Study

• DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12020154
• Publication Date: 2022-01-26T01:44:33Z
• Authors: Arianna Di Stadio; Michael J. Brenner; Pietro De Luca; Maria Albanese; Luca D’Ascanio; Massimo Ralli; Dalila Roccamatisi; Cristina Cingolani; Federica Vitelli; Angelo Camaioni; Stefano Di Girolamo; Evanthia Bernitsas
• Keywords: Hyposmia; Anosmia

Smell alteration and cognitive impairment are common features of the Long-COVID Syndrome. Mental clouding, often described as brain fog, might affect smell by altering recollection odors or through a share mechanism neuroinflammation. We investigated mental headache, function in adult patients with persistent COVID-19 olfactory dysfunction. This multi-center cross-sectional study enrolled 152 adults self-reported dysfunction from 3 tertiary centers specialized disorders. Inclusion criteria were alterations after persisting over 6 months infection, age >18 < 65. Exclusion included alterations, memory problems prior to infection. The evaluated olfactometry, nasal endoscopy, headache scale, assessment, Mini State Examination (MMSE), measures. was stratified classified based on deficit severity presence distortion (parosmia, cacosmia). Data disorder, MMSE, analyzed assess correlations. Among studied, 50 (32.8%) presented anosmia, 25 (16.4%) hyposmia, 10 (6.6%) parosmia/cacosmia, 58 (38.2%) combination hyposmia parosmia; seven (4.6%) suffered exclusively, two (1.4%) had clouding their primary symptom. Headache reported 76 (50%) patients, 71 (46.7%). reporting both, significantly increased risk suffering anosmia and/or when compared counterparts without these neurological symptoms. No reduced MMSE scores. In our cohort post-COVID-19, months, associated more severe loss, consistent neuroinflammatory mechanisms mediating variety