A Comparative Study of the Behavioral Profile of the Behavioral Variant of Frontotemporal Dementia and Parkinson's Disease Dementia

Covid-19 Analysis: Is there an Association Between Covid-19 and Development of Cognitive Deficits?

OBJECTIVE

The effects of COVID-19 infection were initially thought to be limited to the respiratory system; however, recent literature suggests that the virus has systemic effects, even leading to cognitive deficits. The objective of this study is to review COVID-19 related literature to determine whether there is an association between COVID-19 infection and the development of cognitive deficits.

METHOD

A search for articles relevant to COVID-19, cognitive deficits, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Tool (MoCA), and the geriatric population was performed on the MEDLINE, CINAHL, and APA PsychInfo databases.

RESULTS

Substantial evidence exists that reports an association between COVID-19 infection and cognitive decline. The studies included in this literature review surveyed distinct populations and reported cognitive deficits in COVID-19 patients as measured by a reduction in MoCA scores. While cognitive deficits were identified as partially reversible, there were still measurable deficits in cognition post-recovery compared to healthy controls. Furthermore, the measured cognitive deficits were found to be much worse in the geriatric population.

CONCLUSIONS

Current literature shows an association between COVID-19 infection and the development of cognitive deficits. Further research should seek to characterize these cognitive deficits and determine the underlying aetiology and pathogenesis. Initiatives to develop interventions to limit or improve cognitive deficits in post COVID-19 patients is crucial, especially the elderly, given the large burden of disease within this population cohort.

Hyposmia Is Associated with Reduced Cognitive Function in COVID-19: First Preliminary Results

BACKGROUND

Hyposmia is frequently reported as an initial symptom in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

OBJECTIVE

As hyposmia accompanies cognitive impairment in several neurological disorders, we aimed to study whether hyposmia represents a clinical biomarker for both neurological involvement and cognitive impairment in mild CO-VID-19. We aimed to study whether olfactory dysfunction (OD) represents a clinical biomarker for both neurological involvement and cognitive impairment in mild COVID-19.

METHODS

Formal olfactory testing using the Sniffin'Sticks® Screening test, neuropsychological assessment using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and detailed neurological examination were performed in 7 COVID-19 patients with mild disease course and no history of olfactory or cognitive impairment, and 7 controls matched for age, sex, and education. Controls were initially admitted to a dedicated COVID-19 screening ward but tested negative by real-time PCR.

RESULTS

The number of correctly identified odors was significantly lower in COVID-19 than in controls (6 ± 3, vs. 10 ± 1 p = 0.028, r = 0.58). Total MoCA score was significantly lower in COVID-19 patients than in controls (20 ± 5 vs. 26 ± 3, p = 0.042, r = 0.54). Cognitive performance indicated by MoCA was associated with number of correctly identified odors in COVID-19 patients and controls (COVID-19: p = 0.018, 95% CI = 9-19; controls: p = 0.18, r = 0.63, 95% CI = 13-18.5 r = 0.64).

DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION

OD is associated with cognitive impairment in controls and mild COVID-19. OD may represent a potentially useful clinical biomarker for subtle and even subclinical neurological involvement in severe acute respiratory distress syndrome coronavirus-2 infection.