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Arrigoni A, Previtali M, Bosticardo S, Pezzetti G, Poloni S, Capelli S, Napolitano A, Remuzzi A, Zangari R, Lorini FL, Sessa M, Daducci A, Caroli A, Gerevini S. Brain microstructure and connectivity in COVID-19 patients with olfactory or cognitive impairment. Neuroimage Clin 2024; 43:103631. [PMID: 38878591 PMCID: PMC11225694 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2024.103631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2024] [Revised: 05/31/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/08/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The COVID-19 pandemic has affected millions worldwide, causing mortality and multi-organ morbidity. Neurological complications have been recognized. This study aimed to assess brain structural, microstructural, and connectivity alterations in patients with COVID-19-related olfactory or cognitive impairment using post-acute (time from onset: 264[208-313] days) multi-directional diffusion-weighted MRI (DW-MRI). METHODS The study included 16 COVID-19 patients with cognitive impairment (COVID-CM), 35 COVID-19 patients with olfactory disorder (COVID-OD), and 14 controls. A state-of-the-art processing pipeline was developed for DW-MRI pre-processing, mean diffusivity and fractional anisotropy computation, fiber density and cross-section analysis, and tractography of white-matter bundles. Brain parcellation required for probing network connectivity, region-specific microstructure and volume, and cortical thickness was based on T1-weighted scans and anatomical atlases. RESULTS Compared to controls, COVID-CM patients showed overall gray matter atrophy (age and sex corrected p = 0.004), and both COVID-19 patient groups showed regional atrophy and cortical thinning. Both groups presented an increase in gray matter mean diffusivity (corrected p = 0.001), decrease in white matter fiber density and cross-section (corrected p < 0.05), , and COVID-CM patients also displayed an overall increased diffusivity (p = 0.022) and decreased anisotropy (corrected p = 0.038) in white matter. Graph-based analysis revealed reduced network modularity, with an extensive pattern of connectivity increase, in conjunction with a localized reduction in a few connections, mainly located in the left hemisphere. The left cingulate, anterior cingulate, and insula were primarily involved. CONCLUSION Expanding upon previous findings, this study further investigated significant alterations in brain morphology, microstructure, and connectivity in COVID-19 patients with olfactory or cognitive disfunction. These findings suggest underlying neurodegeneration, neuroinflammation, and concomitant compensatory mechanisms. Future longitudinal studies are required to monitor the alterations over time and assess their transient or permanent nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Arrigoni
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Ranica, Italy.
| | - Mattia Previtali
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Ranica, Italy
| | - Sara Bosticardo
- Department of Computer Science, University of Verona, Italy; Translational Imaging in Neurology (ThINK), Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Giulio Pezzetti
- Department of Neuroradiology, ASST Papa Giovanni XXIII, Bergamo, Italy.
| | - Sofia Poloni
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Ranica, Italy.
| | - Serena Capelli
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Ranica, Italy.
| | - Angela Napolitano
- Department of Neuroradiology, ASST Papa Giovanni XXIII, Bergamo, Italy.
| | - Andrea Remuzzi
- Department of Management Information and Production Engineering, University of Bergamo, Dalmine, Italy.
| | - Rosalia Zangari
- FROM Research Foundation, ASST Papa Giovanni XXIII, Bergamo, Italy.
| | - Ferdinando Luca Lorini
- Department of Emergency and Critical Care Area, ASST Papa Giovanni XXIII, Bergamo, Italy.
| | - Maria Sessa
- Department of Neurology, ASST Papa Giovanni XXIII, Bergamo, Italy.
| | | | - Anna Caroli
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Ranica, Italy.
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van der Knaap N, Ariës MJH, van der Horst ICC, Jansen JFA. On the merits and potential of advanced neuroimaging techniques in COVID-19: A scoping review. Neuroimage Clin 2024; 42:103589. [PMID: 38461701 PMCID: PMC10938171 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2024.103589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/03/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Many Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients are suffering from long-term neuropsychological sequelae. These patients may benefit from a better understanding of the underlying neuropathophysiological mechanisms and identification of potential biomarkers and treatment targets. Structural clinical neuroimaging techniques have limited ability to visualize subtle cerebral abnormalities and to investigate brain function. This scoping review assesses the merits and potential of advanced neuroimaging techniques in COVID-19 using literature including advanced neuroimaging or postmortem analyses in adult COVID-19 patients published from the start of the pandemic until December 2023. Findings were summarized according to distinct categories of reported cerebral abnormalities revealed by different imaging techniques. Although no unified COVID-19-specific pattern could be subtracted, a broad range of cerebral abnormalities were revealed by advanced neuroimaging (likely attributable to hypoxic, vascular, and inflammatory pathology), even in absence of structural clinical imaging findings. These abnormalities are validated by postmortem examinations. This scoping review emphasizes the added value of advanced neuroimaging compared to structural clinical imaging and highlights implications for brain functioning and long-term consequences in COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noa van der Knaap
- Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Department of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Research Institute of Mental Health & Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Marcel J H Ariës
- Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Research Institute of Mental Health & Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Iwan C C van der Horst
- Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Jacobus F A Jansen
- Department of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Research Institute of Mental Health & Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Department of Electrical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, the Netherlands.
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Latifi A, Flegr J. Is recovery just the beginning? Persistent symptoms and health and performance deterioration in post-COVID-19, non-hospitalized university students-a cross-sectional study. Biol Methods Protoc 2023; 8:bpad037. [PMID: 38144461 PMCID: PMC10739555 DOI: 10.1093/biomethods/bpad037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 11/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Many individuals experience persistent symptoms such as deteriorated physical and mental health, increased fatigue, and reduced cognitive performance months after recovering from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). There is limited data on the long-term trajectory and prevalence of these symptoms, especially in milder cases. Our study aimed to assess the persistent effects of COVID-19 on physical and mental health, fatigue, and cognitive performance in a cohort of 214 students, averaging 21.8 years of age. Of these, 148 had contracted COVID-19 but were not hospitalized, with the time since infection ranging from 1 to 39 months. We utilized a comprehensive panel of cognitive tests to measure intelligence, memory, and psychomotor skills, and a detailed anamnestic questionnaire to evaluate physical and mental health. While contracting COVID-19 did not significantly impact overall health and performance, it was associated with increased reports of fatigue. However, the reported severity of the disease had a pronounced negative influence on physical health, mental well-being, fatigue, and reaction time. Trends of improvement in physical and mental health, as well as error rate, were observed within the first 2 years post-infection. However, fatigue and reaction time showed a trend of deterioration. Beyond the 2-year mark, physical health and error rate continued to improve, while mental health began to deteriorate. Fatigue and reaction time continued to decline. Overall, our findings suggest that some effects of contracting COVID-19 can persist or even deteriorate over time, even in younger individuals who had mild cases that did not require hospitalization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashkan Latifi
- Department of Philosophy and History of Sciences, Faculty of Science, Laboratory of Evolutionary Biology, Charles University, Viničná 7, Prague 128 00, Czechia
| | - Jaroslav Flegr
- Department of Philosophy and History of Sciences, Faculty of Science, Laboratory of Evolutionary Biology, Charles University, Viničná 7, Prague 128 00, Czechia
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Zorzo C, Solares L, Mendez M, Mendez-Lopez M. Hippocampal alterations after SARS-CoV-2 infection: A systematic review. Behav Brain Res 2023; 455:114662. [PMID: 37703951 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2023.114662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 infection produces a wide range of symptoms. Some of the structural changes caused by the virus in the nervous system are found in the medial temporal lobe, and several neuropsychological sequelae of COVID-19 are related to the function of the hippocampus. The main objective of the systematic review is to update and further analyze the existing evidence of hippocampal and related cortices' structural and functional alterations due to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Both clinical and preclinical studies that used different methodologies to explore the effects of this disease at different stages and grades of severity were considered, besides exploring related cognitive and emotional symptomatology. A total of 24 studies were identified by searching in SCOPUS, Web Of Science (WOS), PubMed, and PsycInfo databases up to October 3rd, 2022. Thirteen studies were performed in clinical human samples, 9 included preclinical animal models, 3 were performed post-mortem, and 1 included both post-mortem and preclinical samples. Alterations in the hippocampus were detected in the acute stage and after several months of infection. Clinical studies revealed alterations in hippocampal connectivity and metabolism. Memory alterations correlated with altered metabolic profiles or changes in grey matter volumes. Hippocampal human postmortem and animal studies observed alterations in neurogenesis, dendrites, and immune response, besides high apoptosis and neuroinflammation. Preclinical studies reported the viral load in the hippocampus. Olfactory dysfunction was associated with alterations in brain functionality. Several clinical studies revealed cognitive complaints, neuropsychological alterations, and depressive and anxious symptomatology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Candela Zorzo
- Neuroscience Institute of Principado de Asturias (INEUROPA), Faculty of Psychology, Plaza Feijoo s/n, 33003 Oviedo, Asturias, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), Av. del Hospital Universitario, s/n, 33011 Oviedo, Asturias, Spain; Department of Psychology, University of Oviedo, Faculty of Psychology, Plaza Feijoo s/n, 33003 Oviedo, Asturias, Spain.
| | - Lucía Solares
- Department of Psychology, University of Oviedo, Faculty of Psychology, Plaza Feijoo s/n, 33003 Oviedo, Asturias, Spain.
| | - Marta Mendez
- Neuroscience Institute of Principado de Asturias (INEUROPA), Faculty of Psychology, Plaza Feijoo s/n, 33003 Oviedo, Asturias, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), Av. del Hospital Universitario, s/n, 33011 Oviedo, Asturias, Spain; Department of Psychology, University of Oviedo, Faculty of Psychology, Plaza Feijoo s/n, 33003 Oviedo, Asturias, Spain.
| | - Magdalena Mendez-Lopez
- Department of Psychology and Sociology, University of Zaragoza, Pedro Cerbuna 12, 50009 Zaragoza, Aragón, Spain; IIS Aragón, San Juan Bosco, 13, 50009 Zaragoza, Aragón, Spain.
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Lathouwers E, Radwan A, Blommaert J, Stas L, Tassignon B, Allard SD, De Ridder F, De Waele E, Hoornaert N, Lacor P, Mertens R, Naeyaert M, Raeymaekers H, Seyler L, Vanbinst AM, Van Liedekerke L, Van Schependom J, Van Schuerbeek P, Provyn S, Roelands B, Vandekerckhove M, Meeusen R, Sunaert S, Nagels G, De Mey J, De Pauw K. A cross-sectional case-control study on the structural connectome in recovered hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Sci Rep 2023; 13:15668. [PMID: 37735584 PMCID: PMC10514277 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-42429-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/10/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023] Open
Abstract
COVID-19 can induce neurological sequelae, negatively affecting the quality of life. Unravelling this illness's impact on structural brain connectivity, white-matter microstructure (WMM), and cognitive performance may help elucidate its implications. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate differences in these factors between former hospitalised COVID-19 patients (COV) and healthy controls. Group differences in structural brain connectivity were explored using Welch-two sample t-tests and two-sample Mann-Whitney U tests. Multivariate linear models were constructed (one per region) to examine fixel-based group differences. Differences in cognitive performance between groups were investigated using Wilcoxon Rank Sum tests. Possible effects of bundle-specific FD measures on cognitive performance were explored using a two-group path model. No differences in whole-brain structural organisation were found. Bundle-specific metrics showed reduced fiber density (p = 0.012, Hedges' g = 0.884) and fiber density cross-section (p = 0.007, Hedges' g = 0.945) in the motor segment of the corpus callosum in COV compared to healthy controls. Cognitive performance on the motor praxis and digit symbol substitution tests was worse in COV than healthy controls (p < 0.001, r = 0.688; p = 0.013, r = 422, respectively). Associations between the cognitive performance and bundle-specific FD measures differed significantly between groups. WMM and cognitive performance differences were observed between COV and healthy controls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elke Lathouwers
- Human Physiology and Sports Physiotherapy Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Ahmed Radwan
- Department of Imaging and Pathology, Translational MRI, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Lara Stas
- Biostatistics and Medical Informatics Research Group, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Department of Public Health, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
- Core Facility-Support for Quantitative and Qualitative Research (SQUARE), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Bruno Tassignon
- Human Physiology and Sports Physiotherapy Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Sabine D Allard
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, UZ Brussel, Jette, Belgium
| | - Filip De Ridder
- Department of Radiology and Magnetic Resonance, UZ Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | | | - Nicole Hoornaert
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, UZ Brussel, Jette, Belgium
| | - Patrick Lacor
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, UZ Brussel, Jette, Belgium
| | - Rembert Mertens
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, UZ Brussel, Jette, Belgium
| | - Maarten Naeyaert
- Department of Radiology and Magnetic Resonance, UZ Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Hubert Raeymaekers
- Department of Radiology and Magnetic Resonance, UZ Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Lucie Seyler
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, UZ Brussel, Jette, Belgium
| | - Anne-Marie Vanbinst
- Department of Radiology and Magnetic Resonance, UZ Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Lien Van Liedekerke
- Department of Radiology and Magnetic Resonance, UZ Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Jeroen Van Schependom
- Artificial Intelligence and Modelling in Clinical Science, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Electronics and Informatics (ETRO), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | | | - Steven Provyn
- Department of Anatomical Research and Clinical Studies (ARCS), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Bart Roelands
- Human Physiology and Sports Physiotherapy Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Marie Vandekerckhove
- Department of Radiology and Magnetic Resonance, UZ Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
- Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
- Faculty of Arts and Philosophy, University of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Romain Meeusen
- Human Physiology and Sports Physiotherapy Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
- BruBotics, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
- Strategic Research Program 'Exercise and the Brain in Health & Disease: The Added Value of Human-Centered Robotics', Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Stefan Sunaert
- Department of Imaging and Pathology, Translational MRI, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Radiology, UZ Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Guy Nagels
- Artificial Intelligence and Modelling in Clinical Science, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Johan De Mey
- Department of Radiology and Magnetic Resonance, UZ Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Kevin De Pauw
- Human Physiology and Sports Physiotherapy Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.
- BruBotics, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.
- Strategic Research Program 'Exercise and the Brain in Health & Disease: The Added Value of Human-Centered Robotics', Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.
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Esposito F, Cirillo M, De Micco R, Caiazzo G, Siciliano M, Russo AG, Monari C, Coppola N, Tedeschi G, Tessitore A. Olfactory Loss and Brain Connectivity after COVID-19: Structural Follow-Up at One Year. Neural Plast 2023; 2023:6496539. [PMID: 37159825 PMCID: PMC10163964 DOI: 10.1155/2023/6496539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The structural connectivity from the primary olfactory cortex to the main secondary olfactory areas was previously reported as relatively increased in the medial orbitofrontal cortex in a cohort of 27 recently SARS-CoV-2-infected (COV+) subjects, of which 23/27 had clinically confirmed olfactory loss, compared to 18 control (COV-) normosmic subjects, who were not previously infected. To complement this finding, here we report the outcome of an identical high angular resolution diffusion MRI analysis on follow-up data sets collected in 18/27 COV+ subjects (10 males, mean age ± SD: 38.7 ± 8.1 years) and 10/18 COV- subjects (5 males, mean age ± SD: 33.1 ± 3.6 years) from the previous samples who repeated both the olfactory functional assessment and the MRI examination after ~1 year. By comparing the newly derived subgroups, we observed that the increase in the structural connectivity index of the medial orbitofrontal cortex was not significant at follow-up, despite 10/18 COV+ subjects were still found hyposmic after ~1 year from SARS-CoV-2 infection. We concluded that the relative hyperconnectivity of the olfactory cortex to the medial orbitofrontal cortex could be, at least in some cases, an acute or reversible phenomenon linked to the recent SARS-CoV-2 infection with associated olfactory loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabrizio Esposito
- Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Piazza L. Miraglia 2, 80138 Napoli, Italy
| | - Mario Cirillo
- Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Piazza L. Miraglia 2, 80138 Napoli, Italy
| | - Rosa De Micco
- Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Piazza L. Miraglia 2, 80138 Napoli, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Caiazzo
- Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Piazza L. Miraglia 2, 80138 Napoli, Italy
| | - Mattia Siciliano
- Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Piazza L. Miraglia 2, 80138 Napoli, Italy
| | - Andrea G. Russo
- Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Piazza L. Miraglia 2, 80138 Napoli, Italy
| | - Caterina Monari
- Department of Mental and Physical Health and Public Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Largo Madonna Delle Grazie 1, 80138 Napoli, Italy
| | - Nicola Coppola
- Department of Mental and Physical Health and Public Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Largo Madonna Delle Grazie 1, 80138 Napoli, Italy
| | - Gioacchino Tedeschi
- Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Piazza L. Miraglia 2, 80138 Napoli, Italy
| | - Alessandro Tessitore
- Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Piazza L. Miraglia 2, 80138 Napoli, Italy
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