Microstructural brain abnormalities, fatigue, and cognitive dysfunction after mild COVID-19

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Neurology
• Radiology

Background:

• Post-COVID-19 conditions can include neuroimaging and neuropsychological alterations.
• Limited research exists on combined neuroimaging and neuropsychology in mild COVID-19 cases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate cognitive dysfunction and brain changes in individuals with mild COVID-19.
• To assess white matter integrity and functional connectivity in post-mild COVID-19 patients.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study of 97 mildly infected individuals and 77 controls.
• Utilized 3T-MRI with diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and resting-state functional MRI (RS-fMRI).
• Included semi-structured interviews, neurological exams, and neuropsychological assessments.

Main Results:

• Patients reported memory loss, fatigue, and headache.
• Confirmed fatigue, excessive somnolence, and impaired verbal fluency and memory recall.
• DTI revealed higher axial diffusivity in white matter of post-COVID-19 patients compared to controls.
• No significant differences in posterior cingulum cortex functional connectivity were found.

Conclusions:

• Mild COVID-19 can lead to persistent cognitive impairment and subtle white matter abnormalities.
• No correlation found between cognitive deficits and neuroimaging findings.
• Longitudinal studies are needed to determine the permanence of these alterations.