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Updated: Aug 18, 2025
Author Spotlight: Noninvasive Cerebral Blood Flow Determination in Human Functional Brain Region for Diagnosis of Neurological Disorders
Published on: May 31, 2024
MRI Assessment of Cerebral Blood Flow in Nonhospitalized Adults Who Self-Isolated Due to COVID-19
William S H Kim1,2, Xiang Ji3, Eugenie Roudaia4
1Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Background:
Neurological symptoms associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), such as fatigue and smell/taste changes, persist beyond infection. However, little is known of brain physiology in the post-COVID-19 timeframe.
Purpose:
To determine whether adults who experienced flu-like symptoms due to COVID-19 would exhibit cerebral blood flow (CBF) alterations in the weeks/months beyond infection, relative to controls who experienced flu-like symptoms but tested negative for COVID-19.
Study Type:
Prospective observational.
Population:
A total of 39 adults who previously self-isolated at home due to COVID-19 (41.9 ± 12.6 years of age, 59% female, 116.5 ± 62.2 days since positive diagnosis) and 11 controls who experienced flu-like symptoms but had a negative COVID-19 diagnosis (41.5 ± 13.4 years of age, 55% female, 112.1 ± 59.5 since negative diagnosis).
Field Strength And Sequences:
A 3.0 T; T1-weighted magnetization-prepared rapid gradient and echo-planar turbo gradient-spin echo arterial spin labeling sequences.
Assessment:
Arterial spin labeling was used to estimate CBF. A self-reported questionnaire assessed symptoms, including ongoing fatigue. CBF was compared between COVID-19 and control groups and between those with (n = 11) and without self-reported ongoing fatigue (n = 28) within the COVID-19 group.
Statistical Tests:
Between-group and within-group comparisons of CBF were performed in a voxel-wise manner, controlling for age and sex, at a family-wise error rate of 0.05.
Results:
Relative to controls, the COVID-19 group exhibited significantly decreased CBF in subcortical regions including the thalamus, orbitofrontal cortex, and basal ganglia (maximum cluster size = 6012 voxels and maximum t-statistic = 5.21). Within the COVID-19 group, significant CBF differences in occipital and parietal regions were observed between those with and without self-reported on-going fatigue.
Data Conclusion:
These cross-sectional data revealed regional CBF decreases in the COVID-19 group, suggesting the relevance of brain physiology in the post-COVID-19 timeframe. This research may help elucidate the heterogeneous symptoms of the post-COVID-19 condition.
Evidence Level:
2.
Technical Efficacy:
Stage 3.
