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What cognitive, mood, and brain changes are associated with Long COVID?
Carolina Marinho, M.D., Ph.D.
Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais - Faculdade de Medicina
Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Background
Some people who contract SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, experience persistent respiratory, neurological, psychological and cardiac symptoms weeks to months after initial infection. This condition, referred to as “Long COVID,” is marked by the continuation of COVID-19 symptoms, or the emergence of new ones, after recovery from the initial phase of illness.
Studies suggest that certain cognitive and mood symptoms may be common among individuals with Long COVID. However, the long-term impact of COVID-19 infection on cognitive functioning and mood remains poorly understood.
Research Plan
Dr. Carolina Marinho and colleagues will study the long-term impacts of COVID-19 infection in a population of older adults with low education and low socioeconomic status in Brazil. The researchers will administer a cognitive evaluation to individuals to identify those with and without cognitive impairment one year after they were hospitalized for COVID-19. The research team will perform cognitive and mood assessments as well as obtain brain scans (magnetic resonance imaging, MRI, and fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography, FDG-PET) from all individuals. Dr. Marinho and colleagues will compare cognitive and mood symptoms, social and demographic information, and brain scan data from participants with and without cognitive impairment.
Impact
The results may shed light on why some individuals experience cognitive and mood symptoms after COVID-19 infection. The findings may help identify individuals who may be most at risk for these symptoms and inform future interventions for individuals with COVID-19.
The NeuroCOVID Grant Program was developed jointly with the Alzheimer's Association and the National Academy of Neuropsychology.
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