Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 11, 2025
Meta-analysis of Voxel-Based Neuroimaging Studies using Seed-based d Mapping with Permutation of Subject Images SDM-PSI
Published on: November 27, 2019
Mendelian Randomization Analyses Accounting for Causal Effect of COVID-19 on Brain Imaging-Derived Phenotypes
Jiajie Lu1,2, Rihong Huang1,2, Yuecheng Peng1,2
1Institute of Neuroscience, Department of Neurosurgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
Insights
This study used genetic data to find causal links between COVID-19 and brain structure changes. Findings suggest COVID-19 impacts brain surface area and thickness, offering insights for future interventions.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Genetics
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) presents global health and economic challenges.
- Limited understanding exists regarding COVID-19's causal impact on human brain macro- and micro-structures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the causal relationships between COVID-19 susceptibility, hospitalization, severity, and brain imaging-derived phenotypes (IDPs).
- Utilizing Mendelian randomization (MR) to explore genetic links between COVID-19 and brain structure.
Main Methods:
- Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses were conducted.
- Summary datasets from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) were employed.
- Investigated the causal effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection, hospitalized COVID-19, and critical COVID-19 on brain structure.
Main Results:
- Hospitalization due to COVID-19 showed a significant association with a global decrease in cortical surface area (SA).
- SARS-CoV-2 infection and hospitalized COVID-19 had nominally causal effects on the thickness (TH) of the postcentral region.
- Critical COVID-19 demonstrated nominally causal effects on the TH of the medial orbitofrontal region and other brain IDPs.
Conclusions:
- The study provides strong genetic evidence for causal links between COVID-19 and various brain imaging-derived phenotypes.
- These findings may aid in improving predictions and guiding interventions related to brain imaging in the context of COVID-19.
Background:
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been a major challenge to global health and a financial burden. Little is known regarding the possible causal effects of COVID-19 on the macro- and micro-structures of the human brain.
Objective:
To determine the causal links between susceptibility, hospitalization, and the severity of COVID-19 and brain imaging-derived phenotypes (IDPs).
Methods:
Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses were performed to investigate the causal effect of three COVID-19 exposures (SARS-CoV-2 infection, hospitalized COVID-19, and critical COVID-19) on brain structure employing summary datasets of genome-wide association studies.
Results:
In terms of cortical phenotypes, hospitalization due to COVID-19 was associated with a global decrease in the surface area (SA) of the cortex structure (β= -624.77, 95% CI: -1227.88 to -21.66, p = 0.042). At the regional level, SARS-CoV-2 infection was found to have a nominally causal effect on the thickness (TH) of the postcentral region (β= -0.004, 95% CI: -0.007 to -0.001, p = 0.01), as well as eight other IDPs. Hospitalized COVID-19 has a nominally causal relationship with TH of postcentral (β= -0.004, 95% CI: -0.007 to -0.001, p = 0.01) and other 6 IDPs. The nominally causal effects of critical COVID-19 on TH of medial orbitofrontal (β=0.004, 95% CI: 0.001to 0.007, p = 0.004) and other 7 IDPs were revealed.
Conclusions:
Our study provides compelling genetic evidence supporting causal relationships between three COVID-19 traits and brain IDPs. This discovery holds promise for enhancing predictions and interventions in brain imaging.
