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Updated: Aug 19, 2025
Evaluation of the Cognitive Performance of Hypertensive Patients with Silent Cerebrovascular Lesions
Published on: April 23, 2021
Hospitalisation for COVID-19 predicts long lasting cerebrovascular impairment: A prospective observational cohort
Kamen A Tsvetanov1, Lennart R B Spindler2, Emmanuel A Stamatakis2
1Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom; Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
Insights
Severe COVID-19 can cause long-term cerebrovascular impairment, affecting brain health six months post-hospitalization. This impairment is linked to the initial disease severity and impacts cognitive and mental well-being.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neuroimaging
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- COVID-19 (caused by SARS-CoV-2) presents neurological challenges, with long-term brain health effects remaining unclear.
- Cerebrovascular changes post-COVID-19 may significantly impact brain health.
- Understanding chronic cerebrovascular effects is crucial for managing long-term COVID-19 consequences.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the chronic effects of COVID-19 on cerebrovascular health six months after hospitalization.
- To correlate cerebrovascular changes with acute COVID-19 severity and clinical outcomes.
- To compare cerebrovascular health in recovered COVID-19 patients with a control group.
Main Methods:
- Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to assess resting state fluctuation amplitudes (RSFA) in 45 COVID-19 survivors.
- Cerebrovascular health was evaluated six months post-hospitalization.
- Acute COVID-19 severity was measured using the WHO Progression Scale and biomarkers; patients were compared to 42 healthy controls.
Main Results:
- Chronic, widespread changes in frontoparietal RSFA were observed in COVID-19 survivors.
- These cerebrovascular changes correlated significantly with the severity of the acute COVID-19 illness.
- The observed impairment was independent of chronic cardiorespiratory issues, age, or sex, and linked to poorer cognitive, mental, and physical health outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Severe acute COVID-19 can lead to chronic cerebrovascular impairment.
- This impairment persists for at least six months post-hospitalization.
- Long-term consequences on cognitive function and mental well-being are potential risks following severe COVID-19.
Abstract:
Human coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has multiple neurological consequences, but its long-term effect on brain health is still uncertain. The cerebrovascular consequences of COVID-19 may also affect brain health. We studied the chronic effect of COVID-19 on cerebrovascular health, in relation to acute severity, adverse clinical outcomes and in contrast to control group data. Here we assess cerebrovascular health in 45 patients six months after hospitalisation for acute COVID-19 using the resting state fluctuation amplitudes (RSFA) from functional magnetic resonance imaging, in relation to disease severity and in contrast with 42 controls. Acute COVID-19 severity was indexed by COVID-19 WHO Progression Scale, inflammatory and coagulatory biomarkers. Chronic widespread changes in frontoparietal RSFA were related to the severity of the acute COVID-19 episode. This relationship was not explained by chronic cardiorespiratory dysfunction, age, or sex. The level of cerebrovascular dysfunction was associated with cognitive, mental, and physical health at follow-up. The principal findings were consistent across univariate and multivariate approaches. The results indicate chronic cerebrovascular impairment following severe acute COVID-19, with the potential for long-term consequences on cognitive function and mental wellbeing.
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