Protective Effect of COVID-19 Vaccination on Post-Infection Visuospatial Deficits

COVID-19 has been associated with persistent cognitive deficits months after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Vaccination reduces severe disease, but its effect on post-infection cognition remains uncertain. We evaluated whether COVID-19 vaccination attenuates cognitive deficits after SARS-CoV-2.

We assessed 237 adults with COVID-19 and 105 controls. Patients were grouped by vaccination status at infection (vaccinated n=87; unvaccinated n=150). The neuropsychological assessment covered language, visuospatial ability, visual memory, verbal memory, attention, executive functions, and working memory. Group differences were tested with Aligned Rank Transform ANOVA with Holm-corrected post hoc comparisons, adjusting for education.

Significant group differences were observed in visuospatial ability and visual memory, assessed with the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test (Copy, Immediate and Delayed Recall) (all p < 0.001). The vaccinated group outperformed the unvaccinated group (p = 0.022) on visuospatial performance. The Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test Copy did not differ significantly among participants vaccinated with CoronaVac, AstraZeneca, or Pfizer.

The findings suggest that COVID-19 vaccination may mitigate post-infection visuospatial deficits, reinforcing the importance of immunization in preventing cognitive sequelae associated with the disease.