Mild to moderate COVID-19 infection was associated with significantly lower subjective cognitive function (effect size r = 0.58) and widespread functional brain hypo-connectivity.
Cross-Sectional (n=49)
No
Does mild to moderate COVID-19 infection alter functional brain connectivity and cognitive function in adults?
Mild to moderate COVID-19 infection is associated with widespread lower functional brain connectivity and reduced information processing efficiency, which correlates with subjective cognitive dysfunction (brain fog) and fatigue.
Effect estimate: effect size r = 0.58
Absolute Event Rate: 49.4% vs 60.1%
p-value: p=<0.001
COVID-19 is associated with increased risk for cognitive decline but very little is known regarding the neural mechanisms of this risk. We enrolled 49 adults (55% female, mean age = 30.7 ± 8.7), 25 with and 24 without a history of COVID-19 infection. We administered standardized tests of cognitive function and acquired brain connectivity data using MRI. The COVID-19 group demonstrated significantly lower cognitive function (W = 475, p < 0.001, effect size r = 0.58) and lower functional connectivity in multiple brain regions (mean t = 3.47 ±0.36, p = 0.03, corrected, effect size d = 0.92 to 1.5). Hypo-connectivity of these regions was inversely correlated with subjective cognitive function and directly correlated with fatigue (p < 0.05, corrected). These regions demonstrated significantly reduced local efficiency (p < 0.026, corrected) and altered effective connectivity (p < 0.001, corrected). COVID-19 may have a widespread effect on the functional connectome characterized by lower functional connectivity and altered patterns of information processing efficiency and effective information flow. This may serve as an adaptation to the pathology of SARS-CoV-2 wherein the brain can continue functioning at near expected objective levels, but patients experience lowered efficiency as brain fog.
Kesler et al. (Fri,) conducted a cross-sectional in Mild to moderate COVID-19 infection (n=49). Mild to moderate COVID-19 infection vs. No history of COVID-19 infection was evaluated on Subjective cognitive function (PROMIS Cognitive score) (effect size r = 0.58, p=<0.001). Mild to moderate COVID-19 infection was associated with significantly lower subjective cognitive function (effect size r = 0.58) and widespread functional brain hypo-connectivity.