Cognitive/behavioural alterations persistent after COVID-19

COVID-19 is associated with significant cognitive and behavioural problems which persist several months after remission of the disease [1]. Cognitive and behavioural alterations were more severe in the youngest patients and were independent of brain structural integrity.

Around 30% of COVID-19 survivors manifest with cognitive disturbances and 30–40% with psychopathological disorders. It is still unclear whether these disturbances persist after COVID-19 infection. An Italian study set out to explore psychopathological features within 2 months (subacute phase) and 10 months (post-COVID-19 phase) after hospital discharge in a cohort of 49 subjects with confirmed COVID-19. Participants underwent comprehensive neuropsychological assessment and a brain MRI within 2 months from hospital discharge; age range was 40–75 years. Prof. Federica Agosta (Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Italy) presented the results.

In the subacute phase, 53% of participants had ≥1 cognitive deficit. Domains affected the most were executive functions (39%), memory (6%), visuospatial functions (6%), and non-executive functions (2%). Also, 16% had depressive symptoms and 18% reported post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Lower performance at information processing was associated with higher severity of respiratory COVID-19 symptoms (r=0.44; P=0.002). Lower performance on memory tests was associated with more white matter brain lesions. Cognitive and psychopathological problems were more severe in younger people, with most patients aged <50 having executive dysfunctions. In the post-COVID-19 phase, at 10 months of follow-up, the percentage of patients with cognitive deficits decreased from 53% to 36%. The incidence of depression and PTSD did not change.

1. Agosta F, et al. Cognitive and behavioral features of a cohort of patients in COVID-19 post-acute phase. EPR-067, EAN 2021 Virtual Congress, 19–22 June.

 

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Posted on 18 August 202118 August 2021