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Mohammadi S, Ghaderi S. Post-COVID-19 conditions: a systematic review on advanced magnetic resonance neuroimaging findings. Neurol Sci 2024; 45:1815-1833. [PMID: 38421524 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-024-07427-6] [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: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Post-COVID conditions (PCCs) cover a wide spectrum of lingering symptoms experienced by survivors of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Neurological and neuropsychiatric sequelae are common in PCCs. Advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques can reveal subtle alterations in brain structure, function, and perfusion that underlie these sequelae. This systematic review aimed to synthesize findings from studies that used advanced MRI to characterize brain changes in individuals with PCCs. A detailed literature search was conducted in the PubMed and Scopus databases to identify relevant studies that used advanced MRI modalities, such as structural MRI (sMRI), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), functional MRI (fMRI), and perfusion-weighted imaging (PWI), to evaluate brain changes in PCCs. Twenty-five studies met the inclusion criteria, comprising 1219 participants with PCCs. The most consistent findings from sMRI were reduced gray matter volume (GMV) and cortical thickness (CTh) in cortical and subcortical regions. DTI frequently reveals increased mean diffusivity (MD), radial diffusivity (RD), and decreased fractional anisotropy (FA) in white matter tracts (WMTs) such as the corpus callosum, corona radiata, and superior longitudinal fasciculus. fMRI demonstrated altered functional connectivity (FC) within the default mode, salience, frontoparietal, somatomotor, subcortical, and cerebellar networks. PWI showed decreased cerebral blood flow (CBF) in the frontotemporal area, thalamus, and basal ganglia. Advanced MRI shows changes in the brain networks and regions of the PCCs, which may cause neurological and neuropsychiatric problems. Multimodal neuroimaging may help understand brain-behavior relationships. Longitudinal studies are necessary to better understand the progression of these brain anomalies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sana Mohammadi
- Department of Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sadegh Ghaderi
- Department of Neuroscience and Addiction Studies, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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2
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Delgado-Alonso C, Delgado-Alvarez A, Díez-Cirarda M, Oliver-Mas S, Cuevas C, Montero-Escribano P, Ramos-Leví AM, Gil-Moreno MJ, López-Carbonero JI, Hermann BP, Matias-Guiu J, Matias-Guiu JA. Cognitive profile in multiple sclerosis and post-COVID condition: a comparative study using a unified taxonomy. Sci Rep 2024; 14:9806. [PMID: 38684843 PMCID: PMC11059260 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-60368-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Post-COVID condition (PCC) and multiple sclerosis (MS) share some clinical and demographic features, including cognitive symptoms and fatigue. Some pathophysiological mechanisms well-known in MS, such as autoimmunity, neuroinflammation and myelin damage, have also been implicated in PCC. In this study, we aimed to compare the cognitive phenotypes of two large cohorts of patients with PCC and MS, and to evaluate the relationship between fatigue and cognitive performance. Cross-sectional study including 218 patients with PCC and 218 with MS matched by age, sex, and years of education. Patients were evaluated with a comprehensive neuropsychological protocol and were categorized according to the International Classification of Cognitive Disorders system. Fatigue and depression were also assessed. Cognitive profiles of PCC and MS largely overlapped, with a greater impairment in episodic memory in MS, but with small effect sizes. The most salient deficits in both disorders were in attention and processing speed. The severity of fatigue was greater in patients with PCC. Still, the correlations between fatigue severity and neuropsychological tests were more prominent in the case of MS. There were no differences in the severity of depression among groups. Our study found similar cognitive profiles in PCC and MS. Fatigue was more severe in PCC, but was more associated with cognitive performance in MS. Further comparative studies addressing the mechanisms related to cognitive dysfunction and fatigue may be of interest to advance the knowledge of these disorders and develop new therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Delgado-Alonso
- Department of Neurology, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Instituto de Investigacion Sanitaria "San Carlos" (IdISSC), C/Profesor Martín Lagos, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Alfonso Delgado-Alvarez
- Department of Neurology, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Instituto de Investigacion Sanitaria "San Carlos" (IdISSC), C/Profesor Martín Lagos, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - María Díez-Cirarda
- Department of Neurology, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Instituto de Investigacion Sanitaria "San Carlos" (IdISSC), C/Profesor Martín Lagos, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Silvia Oliver-Mas
- Department of Neurology, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Instituto de Investigacion Sanitaria "San Carlos" (IdISSC), C/Profesor Martín Lagos, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Constanza Cuevas
- Department of Neurology, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Instituto de Investigacion Sanitaria "San Carlos" (IdISSC), C/Profesor Martín Lagos, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Paloma Montero-Escribano
- Department of Neurology, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Instituto de Investigacion Sanitaria "San Carlos" (IdISSC), C/Profesor Martín Lagos, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana Maria Ramos-Leví
- Department of Endocrinology, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Instituto de Investigacion Sanitaria "San Carlos" (IdISSC), Madrid, Spain
| | - María José Gil-Moreno
- Department of Neurology, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Instituto de Investigacion Sanitaria "San Carlos" (IdISSC), C/Profesor Martín Lagos, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan Ignacio López-Carbonero
- Department of Neurology, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Instituto de Investigacion Sanitaria "San Carlos" (IdISSC), C/Profesor Martín Lagos, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Bruce P Hermann
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Jorge Matias-Guiu
- Department of Neurology, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Instituto de Investigacion Sanitaria "San Carlos" (IdISSC), C/Profesor Martín Lagos, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jordi A Matias-Guiu
- Department of Neurology, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Instituto de Investigacion Sanitaria "San Carlos" (IdISSC), C/Profesor Martín Lagos, 28040, Madrid, Spain.
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3
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McClelland AC, Benitez SJ, Burns J. COVID-19 neuroimaging update: pathophysiology, acute findings, and post-acute developments. Semin Ultrasound CT MR 2024:S0887-2171(24)00026-X. [PMID: 38518814 DOI: 10.1053/j.sult.2024.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/24/2024]
Abstract
COVID-19 has prominent effects on the nervous system with important manifestations on neuroimaging. In this review, we discuss the neuroimaging appearance of acute COVID-19 that became evident during the early stages of the pandemic. We highlight the underlying pathophysiology mediating nervous system effects and neuroimaging appearances including systemic inflammatory response such as cytokine storm, coagulopathy, and para/post-infections immune mediated phenomena. We also discuss the nervous system manifestations of COVID-19 and the role of imaging as the pandemic has evolved over time, including related to the development of vaccines and the emergence of post-acute sequalae such as long COVID.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Judah Burns
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine; Bronx, NY, Department of Radiology, Montefiore Medical Center; Bronx, NY.
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4
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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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5
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Mohammadi S, Ghaderi S. Advanced magnetic resonance neuroimaging techniques: feasibility and applications in long or post-COVID-19 syndrome - a review. Ann Med Surg (Lond) 2024; 86:1584-1589. [PMID: 38463042 PMCID: PMC10923379 DOI: 10.1097/ms9.0000000000001808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Long-term or post-COVID-19 syndrome (PCS) is a condition that affects people infected with SARS‑CoV‑2, the virus that causes COVID-19. PCS is characterized by a wide range of persistent or new symptoms that last months after the initial infection, such as fatigue, shortness of breath, cognitive dysfunction, and pain. Advanced magnetic resonance (MR) neuroimaging techniques can provide valuable information on the structural and functional changes in the brain associated with PCS as well as potential biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis. In this review, we discuss the feasibility and applications of various advanced MR neuroimaging techniques in PCS, including perfusion-weighted imaging (PWI), diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI), functional MR imaging (fMRI), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), and tractography. We summarize the current evidence on neuroimaging findings in PCS, the challenges and limitations of these techniques, and the future directions for research and clinical practice. Although still uncertain, advanced MRI techniques show promise for gaining insight into the pathophysiology and guiding the management of COVID-19 syndrome, pending larger validation studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sana Mohammadi
- Department of Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences
| | - Sadegh Ghaderi
- Department of Neuroscience and Addiction Studies, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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6
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Zhang S, Yuan M, He D, Dang W, Zhang W. Long-term follow-up of brain regional changes and the association with cognitive impairment in quarantined COVID-19 survivors. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2024:10.1007/s00406-023-01741-4. [PMID: 38319396 DOI: 10.1007/s00406-023-01741-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aimed to evaluate the neuropsychiatric symptoms of quarantined COVID-19 survivors 15 months after discharge and explore its potential association with structural and functional brain changes and inflammation. METHODS A total of 51 quarantined COVID-19 survivors and 74 healthy controls were included in this study. Cognitive function was assessed using the THINC-integrated tool. Structural brain changes were examined through both surface- and volume-based analyses, and functional changes were assessed using resting-state amplitude low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF). Serum inflammatory markers were measured by a multiplexed flow cytometric assay. RESULTS COVID-19 survivors exhibited subjective cognitive decline compared to healthy controls, despite no significant differences in objective cognitive tasks. Structural analysis revealed significantly increased gray matter volume and cortical surface area in the left transverse temporal gyrus (Heschl's gyrus) in quarantined COVID-19 survivors. This enlargement was negatively correlated with cognitive impairment. The ALFF analysis showed decreased neural activity in multiple brain regions. Elevated levels of serum inflammatory markers were also found in COVID-19 survivors, including MIP-1a, MIP-1b, TNF-a, and IL-8, which correlated with functional abnormalities. CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicate a subjective cognitive decline in quarantined COVID-19 survivors 15 months after discharge, which is associated with brain structural alterations in the left Heschl's gyrus. The observed elevation of inflammatory markers suggests a potential mechanism involving inflammation-induced neurogenesis. These results contribute to our understanding of the possible mechanisms underlying long-term neuropsychiatric consequences of COVID-19 and highlight the need for further research to develop targeted interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simai Zhang
- West China Biomedical Big Data Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37 Guoxue Street, Chengdu, 610041, China
- Med-X Center for Informatics, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Minlan Yuan
- Mental Health Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
| | - Danmei He
- Mental Health Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Wen Dang
- Mental Health Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- West China Biomedical Big Data Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37 Guoxue Street, Chengdu, 610041, China.
- Med-X Center for Informatics, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
- Mental Health Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
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7
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Lin K, Gao Y, Ji W, Li Y, Wang W, Du M, Liu J, Hong Z, Jiang T, Wang Y. Attentional impairment and altered brain activity in healthcare workers after mild COVID-19. Brain Imaging Behav 2024:10.1007/s11682-024-00851-4. [PMID: 38296922 DOI: 10.1007/s11682-024-00851-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/02/2024]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2) is highly transmissible and pathogenic. Patients with mild cases account for the majority of those infected with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Although there is evidence that many patients with COVID-19 have varying degrees of attentional impairment, little is known about how SARS-COV-2 affects attentional function. This study included a high-risk healthcare population divided into groups of healthcare workers (HCWs) with mild COVID-19 (patient group, n = 45) and matched healthy HCWs controls (HC group, n = 42), who completed general neuropsychological background tests and Attention Network Test (ANT), and underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) using amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) to assess altered brain activity; Selective impairment occurred in orienting and executive control networks, but not in alert network, in the patient group, and widespread cognitive impairment encompassing general attention, memory, and executive dysfunction. Moreover, the patient group had significantly lower ALFF values in the left superior and left middle frontal gyri than the HC group. SARS-COV-2 infection may have led to reduced brain activity in the left superior and left middle frontal gyri, thus impairing attentional orienting and executive control networks, which may explain the development of attentional deficits after COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keyi Lin
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Anhui Public Health Clinical Center, Hefei, China
| | - Yaotian Gao
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Anhui Public Health Clinical Center, Hefei, China
| | - Wei Ji
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Anhui Public Health Clinical Center, Hefei, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hefei Huaan Brain Hospital, Hefei, China
| | - Yan Li
- Anhui Public Health Clinical Center, Hefei, China
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Mengcheng Du
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Jia Liu
- Anhui Public Health Clinical Center, Hefei, China
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Zhengyu Hong
- Anhui Public Health Clinical Center, Hefei, China
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Tao Jiang
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.
- Anhui Public Health Clinical Center, Hefei, China.
- Anhui Provincial Institute of Translational Medicine, Hefei, China.
| | - Yuyang Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.
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8
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Scardua-Silva L, Amorim da Costa B, Karmann Aventurato Í, Batista Joao R, Machado de Campos B, Rabelo de Brito M, Bechelli JF, Santos Silva LC, Ferreira Dos Santos A, Koutsodontis Machado Alvim M, Vieira Nunes Ludwig G, Rocha C, Kaue Alves Silva Souza T, Mendes MJ, Waku T, de Oliveira Boldrini V, Silva Brunetti N, Nora Baptista S, da Silva Schmitt G, Duarte de Sousa JG, Marchiori de Oliveira Cardoso TA, Schwambach Vieira A, Barbosa Santos LM, Dos Santos Farias A, Nogueira MH, Cendes F, Lin Yasuda C. Microstructural brain abnormalities, fatigue, and cognitive dysfunction after mild COVID-19. Sci Rep 2024; 14:1758. [PMID: 38242927 PMCID: PMC10798999 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-52005-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 01/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Although some studies have shown neuroimaging and neuropsychological alterations in post-COVID-19 patients, fewer combined neuroimaging and neuropsychology evaluations of individuals who presented a mild acute infection. Here we investigated cognitive dysfunction and brain changes in a group of mildly infected individuals. We conducted a cross-sectional study of 97 consecutive subjects (median age of 41 years) without current or history of psychiatric symptoms (including anxiety and depression) after a mild infection, with a median of 79 days (and mean of 97 days) after diagnosis of COVID-19. We performed semi-structured interviews, neurological examinations, 3T-MRI scans, and neuropsychological assessments. For MRI analyses, we included a group of non-infected 77 controls. The MRI study included white matter (WM) investigation with diffusion tensor images (DTI) and functional connectivity with resting-state functional MRI (RS-fMRI). The patients reported memory loss (36%), fatigue (31%) and headache (29%). The quantitative analyses confirmed symptoms of fatigue (83% of participants), excessive somnolence (35%), impaired phonemic verbal fluency (21%), impaired verbal categorical fluency (13%) and impaired logical memory immediate recall (16%). The WM analyses with DTI revealed higher axial diffusivity values in post-infected patients compared to controls. Compared to controls, there were no significant differences in the functional connectivity of the posterior cingulum cortex. There were no significant correlations between neuropsychological scores and neuroimaging features (including DTI and RS-fMRI). Our results suggest persistent cognitive impairment and subtle white matter abnormalities in individuals mildly infected without anxiety or depression symptoms. The longitudinal analyses will clarify whether these alterations are temporary or permanent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas Scardua-Silva
- Brazilian Institute of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology (BRAINN), University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
- Department of Neurology, Clinics Hospital, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Beatriz Amorim da Costa
- Brazilian Institute of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology (BRAINN), University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
- Department of Neurology, Clinics Hospital, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Ítalo Karmann Aventurato
- Brazilian Institute of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology (BRAINN), University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
- Department of Neurology, Clinics Hospital, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Rafael Batista Joao
- Brazilian Institute of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology (BRAINN), University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
- Department of Neurology, Clinics Hospital, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Brunno Machado de Campos
- Brazilian Institute of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology (BRAINN), University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Mariana Rabelo de Brito
- Brazilian Institute of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology (BRAINN), University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
- Department of Neurology, Clinics Hospital, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - José Flávio Bechelli
- Brazilian Institute of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology (BRAINN), University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
- Department of Neurology, Clinics Hospital, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Leila Camila Santos Silva
- Brazilian Institute of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology (BRAINN), University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
- Department of Neurology, Clinics Hospital, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Alan Ferreira Dos Santos
- Brazilian Institute of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology (BRAINN), University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
- Department of Neurology, Clinics Hospital, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Marina Koutsodontis Machado Alvim
- Brazilian Institute of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology (BRAINN), University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
- Department of Neurology, Clinics Hospital, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Guilherme Vieira Nunes Ludwig
- Brazilian Institute of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology (BRAINN), University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
- Institute of Mathematics, Statistics and Scientific Computing, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Cristiane Rocha
- Brazilian Institute of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology (BRAINN), University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Thierry Kaue Alves Silva Souza
- Brazilian Institute of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology (BRAINN), University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
- Department of Neurology, Clinics Hospital, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Maria Julia Mendes
- Brazilian Institute of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology (BRAINN), University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
- Department of Neurology, Clinics Hospital, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Takeshi Waku
- Brazilian Institute of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology (BRAINN), University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | | | | | - Sophia Nora Baptista
- Autoimmune Research Lab, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - André Schwambach Vieira
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
- Autoimmune Research Lab, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | | | | | - Mateus Henrique Nogueira
- Brazilian Institute of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology (BRAINN), University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil.
- Department of Neurology, Clinics Hospital, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil.
| | - Fernando Cendes
- Brazilian Institute of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology (BRAINN), University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil.
- Department of Neurology, Clinics Hospital, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil.
| | - Clarissa Lin Yasuda
- Brazilian Institute of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology (BRAINN), University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil.
- Department of Neurology, Clinics Hospital, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil.
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9
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Helbing DL, Dommaschk EM, Danyeli LV, Liepinsh E, Refisch A, Sen ZD, Zvejniece L, Rocktäschel T, Stabenow LK, Schiöth HB, Walter M, Dambrova M, Besteher B. Conceptual foundations of acetylcarnitine supplementation in neuropsychiatric long COVID syndrome: a narrative review. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2024:10.1007/s00406-023-01734-3. [PMID: 38172332 DOI: 10.1007/s00406-023-01734-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 can present as multi-organ pathology, with neuropsychiatric symptoms being the most common symptom complex, characterizing long COVID as a syndrome with a significant disease burden for affected individuals. Several typical symptoms of long COVID, such as fatigue, depressive symptoms and cognitive impairment, are also key features of other psychiatric disorders such as myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and major depressive disorder (MDD). However, clinically successful treatment strategies are still lacking and are often inspired by treatment options for diseases with similar clinical presentations, such as ME/CFS. Acetylcarnitine, the shortest metabolite of a class of fatty acid metabolites called acylcarnitines and one of the most abundant blood metabolites in humans can be used as a dietary/nutritional supplement with proven clinical efficacy in the treatment of MDD, ME/CFS and other neuropsychiatric disorders. Basic research in recent decades has established acylcarnitines in general, and acetylcarnitine in particular, as important regulators and indicators of mitochondrial function and other physiological processes such as neuroinflammation and energy production pathways. In this review, we will compare the clinical basis of neuropsychiatric long COVID with other fatigue-associated diseases. We will also review common molecular disease mechanisms associated with altered acetylcarnitine metabolism and the potential of acetylcarnitine to interfere with these as a therapeutic agent. Finally, we will review the current evidence for acetylcarnitine as a supplement in the treatment of fatigue-associated diseases and propose future research strategies to investigate the potential of acetylcarnitine as a treatment option for long COVID.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dario Lucas Helbing
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Philosophenweg 3, 07743, Jena, Germany
- Center for Intervention and Research on Adaptive and Maladaptive Brain Circuits, Underlying Mental Health (C-I-R-C), Jena, Magdeburg, Halle, Germany
- German Center for Mental Health (DZPG), Site Halle, Jena, Magdeburg, Germany
- Leibniz Institute on Aging, Fritz Lipmann Institute, Jena, Germany
- Institute of Molecular Cell Biology, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Eva-Maria Dommaschk
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Philosophenweg 3, 07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Lena Vera Danyeli
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Philosophenweg 3, 07743, Jena, Germany
- Center for Intervention and Research on Adaptive and Maladaptive Brain Circuits, Underlying Mental Health (C-I-R-C), Jena, Magdeburg, Halle, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Edgars Liepinsh
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Pharmacology, Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Riga, Latvia
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Riga Stradins University, Riga, Latvia
| | - Alexander Refisch
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Philosophenweg 3, 07743, Jena, Germany
- Center for Intervention and Research on Adaptive and Maladaptive Brain Circuits, Underlying Mental Health (C-I-R-C), Jena, Magdeburg, Halle, Germany
| | - Zümrüt Duygu Sen
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Philosophenweg 3, 07743, Jena, Germany
- Center for Intervention and Research on Adaptive and Maladaptive Brain Circuits, Underlying Mental Health (C-I-R-C), Jena, Magdeburg, Halle, Germany
| | - Liga Zvejniece
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Pharmacology, Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Riga, Latvia
| | - Tonia Rocktäschel
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Philosophenweg 3, 07743, Jena, Germany
- Center for Intervention and Research on Adaptive and Maladaptive Brain Circuits, Underlying Mental Health (C-I-R-C), Jena, Magdeburg, Halle, Germany
- German Center for Mental Health (DZPG), Site Halle, Jena, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Leonie Karoline Stabenow
- Institute of Molecular Cell Biology, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, 07745, Jena, Germany
- Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Helgi B Schiöth
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Functional Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Uppsala University, 751 24, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Martin Walter
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Philosophenweg 3, 07743, Jena, Germany
- Center for Intervention and Research on Adaptive and Maladaptive Brain Circuits, Underlying Mental Health (C-I-R-C), Jena, Magdeburg, Halle, Germany
- German Center for Mental Health (DZPG), Site Halle, Jena, Magdeburg, Germany
- Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Magdeburg, Germany
- Department of Behavioral Neurology, Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Magdeburg, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Maija Dambrova
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Pharmacology, Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Riga, Latvia
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Riga Stradins University, Riga, Latvia
| | - Bianca Besteher
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Philosophenweg 3, 07743, Jena, Germany.
- Center for Intervention and Research on Adaptive and Maladaptive Brain Circuits, Underlying Mental Health (C-I-R-C), Jena, Magdeburg, Halle, Germany.
- German Center for Mental Health (DZPG), Site Halle, Jena, Magdeburg, Germany.
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10
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Tanashyan M, Morozova S, Raskurazhev A, Kuznetsova P. A prospective randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled study to evaluate the effectiveness of neuroprotective therapy using functional brain MRI in patients with post-covid chronic fatigue syndrome. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 168:115723. [PMID: 37862966 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115723] [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: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE to assess executive network using resting-state fMRI and patterns of brain activation using task fMRI with a cognitive paradigm, against the background of taking the drug in comparison with placebo in patients with post-COVID asthenic syndrome. METHODS The study employed a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial approach to assess the efficacy of utilizing functional MRI of the brain as a neuroprotective therapy for treating patients with chronic fatigue syndrome following COVID-19. The study included 30 patients matched by sex and age with post-COVID asthenic syndrome. All patients were examined with MFI-20, MoCA, FAS-10 scales, MRI using a Siemens MAGNETOM Prisma 3 T scanner before and after a course of therapy with coordination complex with succinate acid anion (CCSA) or placebo (15 patients each) using resting state fMRI and with cognitive paradigm. RESULTS The changes obtained as a result of the treatment of post-Covid asthenic syndrome demonstrated clinical superiority in the reduction of asthenic symptoms for the group of patients treated with CCSA (MFI-20 scores: -20·0 points in the CCSA group compared to -12 points in the placebo group, p = 0·043). The data obtained also correlate with the analysis of task fMRI and resting state fMRI may indicate an increase in the functional cognitive status after a course of therapy with CCSA. Clinically, this correlates with a statistically significant improvement in the MoCA score (2 points in the CCSA group compared to 1 point in the placebo group, p < 0·05). CONCLUSIONS the study demonstrates the potential effectiveness of CCSA therapy in relation to a wide range of symptoms (chronic fatigue syndrome/ asthenic syndrome and cognitive impairment) in patients with post-COVID syndrome. The first time demonstrated the effectiveness of neuroprotective therapy after post-COVID asthenic syndrome with the use of high-tech neuroimaging techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Tanashyan
- Research Center of Neurology, Moscow, Russia.
| | - S Morozova
- Research Center of Neurology, Moscow, Russia.
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11
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Ocampo FF, Promsena P, Chan P. Update on Central Nervous System Effects of the Intersection of HIV-1 and SARS-CoV-2. Curr HIV/AIDS Rep 2023; 20:345-356. [PMID: 37950846 DOI: 10.1007/s11904-023-00676-8] [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] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/13/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Research has shown myriad neurologic and mental health manifestations during the acute and subsequent stages of COVID-19 in people with HIV (PWH). This review summarizes the updates on central nervous system (CNS) outcomes following SARS-CoV-2 infection in PWH and highlight the existing knowledge gaps in this area. RECENT FINDINGS Studies leveraging electronic record systems have highlighted the excess risk of developing acute and lingering neurological complications of COVID-19 in PWH compared to people without HIV (PWoH). However, there is a notable scarcity of neuroimaging as well as blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) marker studies that can confirm the potential synergy between these two infections, particularly in PWH receiving suppressive antiretroviral therapy. Considering the unclear potential interaction between SARS-CoV-2 and HIV, clinicians should remain vigilant regarding new-onset or worsening neurological symptoms in PWH following COVID-19, as they could be linked to either infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ferron F Ocampo
- SEARCH Research Foundation, Block 28, 926 Tower C Room C114-C115 Soi Chula 7, Wang Mai, Pathum Wan, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand.
| | - Pathariya Promsena
- SEARCH Research Foundation, Block 28, 926 Tower C Room C114-C115 Soi Chula 7, Wang Mai, Pathum Wan, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
- Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Center of Excellence for Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Vaccines, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Phillip Chan
- Department of Neurology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Yale Center for Brain and Mind Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
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12
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Boito D, Eklund A, Tisell A, Levi R, Özarslan E, Blystad I. MRI with generalized diffusion encoding reveals damaged white matter in patients previously hospitalized for COVID-19 and with persisting symptoms at follow-up. Brain Commun 2023; 5:fcad284. [PMID: 37953843 PMCID: PMC10638510 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcad284] [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: 05/02/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
There is mounting evidence of the long-term effects of COVID-19 on the central nervous system, with patients experiencing diverse symptoms, often suggesting brain involvement. Conventional brain MRI of these patients shows unspecific patterns, with no clear connection of the symptomatology to brain tissue abnormalities, whereas diffusion tensor studies and volumetric analyses detect measurable changes in the brain after COVID-19. Diffusion MRI exploits the random motion of water molecules to achieve unique sensitivity to structures at the microscopic level, and new sequences employing generalized diffusion encoding provide structural information which are sensitive to intravoxel features. In this observational study, a total of 32 persons were investigated: 16 patients previously hospitalized for COVID-19 with persisting symptoms of post-COVID condition (mean age 60 years: range 41-79, all male) at 7-month follow-up and 16 matched controls, not previously hospitalized for COVID-19, with no post-COVID symptoms (mean age 58 years, range 46-69, 11 males). Standard MRI and generalized diffusion encoding MRI were employed to examine the brain white matter of the subjects. To detect possible group differences, several tissue microstructure descriptors obtainable with the employed diffusion sequence, the fractional anisotropy, mean diffusivity, axial diffusivity, radial diffusivity, microscopic anisotropy, orientational coherence (Cc) and variance in compartment's size (CMD) were analysed using the tract-based spatial statistics framework. The tract-based spatial statistics analysis showed widespread statistically significant differences (P < 0.05, corrected for multiple comparisons using the familywise error rate) in all the considered metrics in the white matter of the patients compared to the controls. Fractional anisotropy, microscopic anisotropy and Cc were lower in the patient group, while axial diffusivity, radial diffusivity, mean diffusivity and CMD were higher. Significant changes in fractional anisotropy, microscopic anisotropy and CMD affected approximately half of the analysed white matter voxels located across all brain lobes, while changes in Cc were mainly found in the occipital parts of the brain. Given the predominant alteration in microscopic anisotropy compared to Cc, the observed changes in diffusion anisotropy are mostly due to loss of local anisotropy, possibly connected to axonal damage, rather than white matter fibre coherence disruption. The increase in radial diffusivity is indicative of demyelination, while the changes in mean diffusivity and CMD are compatible with vasogenic oedema. In summary, these widespread alterations of white matter microstructure are indicative of vasogenic oedema, demyelination and axonal damage. These changes might be a contributing factor to the diversity of central nervous system symptoms that many patients experience after COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deneb Boito
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Linköping University, S-58183 Linköping, Sweden
- Centre for Medical Image Science and Visualization (CMIV), Linköping University, S-58183 Linköping, Sweden
| | - Anders Eklund
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Linköping University, S-58183 Linköping, Sweden
- Centre for Medical Image Science and Visualization (CMIV), Linköping University, S-58183 Linköping, Sweden
- Division of Statistics and Machine learning, Department of Computer and Information Science, Linköping University, S-58183 Linköping, Sweden
| | - Anders Tisell
- Centre for Medical Image Science and Visualization (CMIV), Linköping University, S-58183 Linköping, Sweden
- Department of Radiation Physics, Linköping University, S-58185 Linköping, Sweden
- Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, S58183 Linköping, Sweden
| | - Richard Levi
- Centre for Medical Image Science and Visualization (CMIV), Linköping University, S-58183 Linköping, Sweden
- Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, S58183 Linköping, Sweden
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine in Linköping, Linköping University, S-58185 Linköping, Sweden
| | - Evren Özarslan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Linköping University, S-58183 Linköping, Sweden
- Centre for Medical Image Science and Visualization (CMIV), Linköping University, S-58183 Linköping, Sweden
| | - Ida Blystad
- Centre for Medical Image Science and Visualization (CMIV), Linköping University, S-58183 Linköping, Sweden
- Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, S58183 Linköping, Sweden
- Department of Radiology in Linköping, Linköping University, S-58185 Linköping, Sweden
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13
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Scalabrini A, Palladini M, Mazza MG, Mucci C, Northoff G, Benedetti F. In Between the Psychological and Physiological Self - The Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic on the Neuro-Socio-Ecological and Inflammatory Mind-Body-Brain System. CLINICAL NEUROPSYCHIATRY 2023; 20:342-350. [PMID: 37791086 PMCID: PMC10544257 DOI: 10.36131/cnfioritieditore20230414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on individuals' sense of self perturbating the sense of connectedness with the others, touching upon deep existential fears and deep intersubjective and cultural layers, emphasizing the importance of a neuro-socio-ecological alignment for the sense of security of psychological self. We can still observe after years how social distancing measures, quarantines, and lockdowns have disrupted social connections and routines, leading to feelings of isolation, anxiety and depressive symptomatology. Furthermore, from a physiological perspective, some people continue to experience health problems long after having COVID-19, and these ongoing health problems are sometimes called post-COVID-19 syndrome or post-COVID conditions (PASC). In this complex scenario, through the operationalization of the sense of self and its psychological and physiological baseline, our aim is to try to shed some new light on elements of resilience vs. vulnerability. Here we intend the self and its baseline as the crossroads between psychology and physiology and we show how COVID-19 pandemic, especially in post-COVID-19 syndrome (PACS), left traces in the mind-body-brain system at a neuro-socio-ecological and inflammatory level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Scalabrini
- Department of Human and Social Sciences, University of Bergamo, Bergamo, Italy
| | - Mariagrazia Palladini
- University Vita- Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
- Psychiatry & Clinical Psychobiology Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Mario Gennaro Mazza
- University Vita- Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
- Psychiatry & Clinical Psychobiology Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Clara Mucci
- Department of Human and Social Sciences, University of Bergamo, Bergamo, Italy
| | - Georg Northoff
- The Royal’s Institute of Mental Health Research & University of Ottawa. Brain and Mind Research Institute, Centre for Neural Dynamics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, 145 Carling Avenue, Rm. 6435, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1Z 7K412
- Mental Health Centre, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Tianmu Road 305, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310013, China
- Centre for Cognition and Brain Disorders, Hangzhou Normal University, Tianmu Road 305, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310013, China
| | - Francesco Benedetti
- University Vita- Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
- Psychiatry & Clinical Psychobiology Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
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14
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Invernizzi A, Renzetti S, van Thriel C, Rechtman E, Patrono A, Ambrosi C, Mascaro L, Cagna G, Gasparotti R, Reichenberg A, Tang CY, Lucchini RG, Wright RO, Placidi D, Horton MK. Covid-19 related cognitive, structural and functional brain changes among Italian adolescents and young adults: a multimodal longitudinal case-control study. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2023:2023.07.19.23292909. [PMID: 37503251 PMCID: PMC10371098 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.19.23292909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been associated with brain functional, structural, and cognitive changes that persist months after infection. Most studies of the neurologic outcomes related to COVID-19 focus on severe infection and aging populations. Here, we investigated the neural activities underlying COVID-19 related outcomes in a case-control study of mildly infected youth enrolled in a longitudinal study in Lombardy, Italy, a global hotspot of COVID-19. All participants (13 cases, 27 controls, mean age 24 years) completed resting state functional (fMRI), structural MRI, cognitive assessments (CANTAB spatial working memory) at baseline (pre-COVID) and follow-up (post-COVID). Using graph theory eigenvector centrality (EC) and data-driven statistical methods, we examined differences in ECdelta (i.e., the difference in EC values pre- and post-COVID-19) and volumetricdelta (i.e., the difference in cortical volume of cortical and subcortical areas pre- and post-COVID) between COVID-19 cases and controls. We found that ECdeltasignificantly between COVID-19 and healthy participants in five brain regions; right intracalcarine cortex, right lingual gyrus, left hippocampus, left amygdala, left frontal orbital cortex. The left hippocampus showed a significant decrease in volumetricdelta between groups (p=0.041). The reduced ECdelta in the right amygdala associated with COVID-19 status mediated the association between COVID-19 and disrupted spatial working memory. Our results show persistent structural, functional and cognitive brain changes in key brain areas associated with olfaction and cognition. These results may guide treatment efforts to assess the longevity, reversibility and impact of the observed brain and cognitive changes following COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azzurra Invernizzi
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Stefano Renzetti
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Christoph van Thriel
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Elza Rechtman
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Alessandra Patrono
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Claudia Ambrosi
- Department of Neuroscience, Neuroradiology Unit, ASST Cremona
| | | | - Giuseppa Cagna
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Roberto Gasparotti
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Abraham Reichenberg
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Cheuk Y Tang
- Department of Diagnostic, Molecular, and Interventional Radiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Roberto G Lucchini
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Robert O Wright
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Donatella Placidi
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Megan K Horton
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
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15
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Kotzalidis GD, Ferrara OM, Margoni S, Ieritano V, Restaino A, Bernardi E, Fischetti A, Catinari A, Monti L, Chieffo DPR, Simonetti A, Sani G. Are the Post-COVID-19 Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Symptoms Justified by the Effects of COVID-19 on Brain Structure? A Systematic Review. J Pers Med 2023; 13:1140. [PMID: 37511753 PMCID: PMC10381510 DOI: 10.3390/jpm13071140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
COVID-19 affects brain function, as deduced by the "brain fog" that is often encountered in COVID-19 patients and some cognitive impairment that is observed in many a patient in the post-COVID-19 period. Approximately one-third of patients, even when they have recovered from the acute somatic disease, continue to show posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. We hypothesized that the persistent changes induced by COVID-19 on brain structure would overlap with those associated with PTSD. We performed a thorough PubMed search on 25 April 2023 using the following strategy: ((posttraumatic OR PTSD) AND COVID-19 AND (neuroimaging OR voxel OR VBM OR freesurfer OR structural OR ROI OR whole-brain OR hippocamp* OR amygd* OR "deep gray matter" OR "cortical thickness" OR caudate OR striatum OR accumbens OR putamen OR "regions of interest" OR subcortical)) OR (COVID-19 AND brain AND (voxel[ti] OR VBM[ti] OR magnetic[ti] OR resonance[ti] OR imaging[ti] OR neuroimaging[ti] OR neuroimage[ti] OR positron[ti] OR photon*[ti] OR PET[ti] OR SPET[ti] OR SPECT[ti] OR spectroscop*[ti] OR MRS[ti])), which produced 486 records and two additional records from other sources, of which 36 were found to be eligible. Alterations were identified and described and plotted against the ordinary PTSD imaging findings. Common elements were hypometabolism in the insula and caudate nucleus, reduced hippocampal volumes, and subarachnoid hemorrhages, while white matter hyperintensities were widespread in both PTSD and post-COVID-19 brain infection. The comparison partly supported our initial hypothesis. These data may contribute to further investigation of the effects of long COVID on brain structure and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgios D Kotzalidis
- NESMOS (Neurosciences, Mental Health, and Sensory Organs) Department, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Sapienza-Università di Roma, 00189 Rome, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Psychiatry, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCSS, 00168 Rome, Italy
- Centro Lucio Bini, 00193 Rome, Italy
| | - Ottavia Marianna Ferrara
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Psychiatry, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCSS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Stella Margoni
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Psychiatry, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCSS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Valentina Ieritano
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Psychiatry, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCSS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Restaino
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Psychiatry, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCSS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Evelina Bernardi
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Psychiatry, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCSS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Alessia Fischetti
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Psychiatry, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCSS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Antonello Catinari
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Psychiatry, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCSS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Monti
- UOS Clinical Psychology, Clinical Government, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Daniela Pia Rosaria Chieffo
- UOS Clinical Psychology, Clinical Government, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
- Women, Children and Public Health Department, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Alessio Simonetti
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Psychiatry, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCSS, 00168 Rome, Italy
- Centro Lucio Bini, 00193 Rome, Italy
- Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Institute of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Gabriele Sani
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Psychiatry, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCSS, 00168 Rome, Italy
- Institute of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy
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