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Long COVID: Brain Changes and Cognitive Impact 2 Years Later

The recently published study “Cognitive impact and brain structural changes in long COVID patients: a cross-sectional MRI study two years post-infection in a cohort from Argentina” investigates the long-term neurological and cognitive effects of long COVID in a Latin American cohort. This research provides significant insights into individuals’ structural brain changes and cognitive performance approximately two years after their initial infection.

Key Points and Findings:

Study Participants:

  • The study involved 137 participants: 109 with long COVID symptoms and 28 healthy controls.
  • The long COVID group reported symptoms including memory problems (83.5%), fatigue (78.9%), and brain fog (79.8%).

Structural Brain Changes:

MRI analysis showed:

  • Reduced volume in regions such as the cerebellum, lingual gyrus, and inferior parietal regions.
  • Decreased cortical thickness in areas including the postcentral gyri, precuneus, and superior temporal gyrus.
  • These changes highlight potential long-term neurological impacts, even when cognitive performance is not severely compromised.

Cognitive Assessment:

  • Despite subjective complaints of cognitive difficulties, cognitive tests revealed minimal impairment.
  • Marginally significant differences were observed in the Trail Making Test-A (TMT-A), suggesting structural brain changes might not always correlate with observable cognitive deficits.

Quality of Life and Physical Activity:

  • Long COVID patients exhibited reduced health-related quality of life and lower physical activity levels compared to controls.
  • Pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression were frequently reported, emphasizing a broader impact on well-being.

Implications:

  • Structural brain alterations may precede or occur independently of measurable cognitive changes.
  • These findings suggest a need for comprehensive, longitudinal studies to understand the progression and potential for neurodegenerative risks.

Citation

Cataldo, S. A., et al. (2024). Cognitive impact and brain structural changes in long COVID patients: a cross-sectional MRI study two years post infection in a cohort from Argentina. BMC neurology, 24(1), 450. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12883-024-03959-8