[Mania after COVID-19 Infection]

Area of Science:

• Geriatric Psychiatry
• Infectious Disease Neurology
• Neuropsychiatry

Background:

• Alzheimer's type dementia is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder.
• Late-onset psychiatric manifestations require careful differential diagnosis.
• The impact of viral infections on pre-existing cognitive decline is an emerging area of research.

Observation:

• An 85-year-old patient with a 3-year history of Alzheimer's type dementia presented with new-onset mania.
• The patient had no prior psychiatric history or treatment.
• The manic syndrome followed a mild course of COVID-19 infection.

Findings:

• The patient exhibited a manic syndrome consistent with ICD-10 criteria.
• Key symptoms included elevated mood, increased drive, and unprecedented behavioral changes.
• This represents the first documented instance of mania in this patient.

Implications:

• COVID-19 may act as a trigger for new-onset manic episodes in elderly individuals with dementia.
• This case highlights the importance of considering infections in the etiology of acute behavioral changes in patients with neurodegenerative diseases.
• Further research is warranted to understand the neurobiological mechanisms linking COVID-19 and mania in vulnerable populations.