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Published on: June 26, 2013
Brain Microstructural Alterations in Children Post-COVID-19 Infection Through VBM, SBM, and Structural Covariance
Rui Wang1,2, Jing Liu1,2, Jiayi Li3
1Department of Radiology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.
Insights
Children recovering from COVID-19 may experience persistent brain structural changes and altered network connectivity. Long-term neuroimaging studies are crucial to understand the developmental impact of these COVID-19 related brain alterations.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pediatric Neurology
- Radiology
Background:
- Children are vulnerable to long-term COVID-19 effects due to ongoing neurodevelopment.
- This study investigates structural brain changes and network alterations in children post-COVID-19.
Purpose of the Study:
- Identify transient and persistent structural brain alterations in children after COVID-19 infection.
- Compare brain morphology and network organization in recovered children versus healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cohort study of 26 children (8-12 years) with COVID-19 and 26 healthy controls.
- High-resolution T1-weighted MRI scans analyzed using Voxel-Based Morphometry (VBM) and Surface-Based Morphometry (SBM).
- Structural Covariance Network (SCN) analysis and graph theory metrics computed to assess brain network organization.
Main Results:
- Reductions in cortical volume observed in the cingulate cortex, hippocampus, and superior temporal gyrus post-COVID-19.
- Partial recovery noted in sulcal depth and cortical thickness of the superior temporal gyrus.
- Structural covariance networks showed lower global efficiency and higher small-worldness in the COVID-19 group, with increased path length.
Conclusions:
- Children recovering from COVID-19 may present with persistent structural brain changes and disrupted network connectivity.
- Some observed brain alterations show partial resolution, while others persist, necessitating long-term follow-up.
- Comprehensive neuroimaging and clinical evaluation are essential to determine the developmental impact of these changes.
Background:
Children represent a particularly vulnerable group to the long-term consequences of COVID-19 due to their ongoing neurodevelopment. This study aimed to identify transient and persistent structural alterations in children recovering from the infection by comparing pretreatment and posttreatment MRI scans and to evaluate differences in brain morphology and network organization relative to age- and sex-matched healthy controls.
Methods:
A retrospective cohort of 26 children aged 8-12 years with confirmed COVID-19 was compared to 26 healthy controls. All participants underwent high-resolution T1-weighted MRI on a 3T scanner using identical acquisition protocols. Standard VBM and SBM pipelines were applied to quantify cortical volume, thickness, and sulcal depth, followed by SCN analysis to construct correlation matrices based on gray matter metrics. Graph theoretic metrics, including clustering coefficients, eigenpath lengths, small-worldness, and global/local efficiencies, were computed under different network sparsity thresholds.
Results:
Cortical volume analyses revealed reductions in regions including the cingulate cortex, hippocampus, and superior temporal gyrus among children post-COVID-19, with within-group comparisons showing decreases in the left middle cingulate cortex (7.4-6.9 cm3), left postcentral gyrus (12.2-10.8 cm3), and right anterior cingulate cortex (2.1-1.8 cm3). Partial recovery of sulcal depth and cortical thickness was observed in the superior temporal gyrus (sulcal depth from 210.3 to 198.5 mm2, thickness from 2.34 to 2.15 mm). Structural covariance network analysis demonstrated lower global efficiency and higher small-worldness in the post-COVID-19 group compared to controls, along with increased characteristic path length, whereas local connectivity measures (clustering coefficient and local efficiency) remained relatively stable.
Conclusions:
Children recovering from COVID-19 may exhibit structural brain changes and network connectivity disruptions, some of which show partial resolution over time, whereas others persist. Long-term follow-up through comprehensive neuroimaging and clinical evaluation is necessary to clarify the potential impact on development.
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