Long term neuropsychiatric consequences in COVID-19 survivors: Cognitive impairment and inflammatory underpinnings 15 months after discharge 2022 He

[Andy]

Highlights

• COVID-19 survivors show long-term cognitive impairment in executive function, even at 15 months after discharge.

• The interferon-inducible T cell alpha chemoattractant, Interleukin-8, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)- α level were significantly elevated in COVID-19 group.

• The TNF-α levels were negatively correlated with performance on the Trails.

Abstract

Background
Emerging evidence shows that cognitive dysfunction may occur following coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) infection which is one of the most common symptoms reported in researches of “Long COVID”. Several inflammatory markers are known to be elevated in COVID-19 survivors and the relationship between long-term inflammation changes and cognitive function remains unknown.

Methods
We assessed cognitive function and neuropsychiatric symptoms of 66 COVID-19 survivors and 79 healthy controls (HCs) matched with sex, age, and education level using a digital, gamified cognitive function evaluation tool and questionnaires at 15 months after discharge. Venous blood samples were collected to measure cytokine levels. We performed correlation analyses and multiple linear regression analysis to identify the factors potentially related to cognitive function.

Results
The COVID-19 survivors performed less well on the Trails (p = 0.047) than the HCs, but most of them did not report subjective neuropsychiatric symptoms. Intensive care unit experience (β = −2.247, p < 0.0001) and self-perceived disease severity (β = −1.522, p = 0.007) were positively correlated, whereas years of education (β = 0.098, p = 0.013) was negatively associated with the performance on the Trails. Moreover, the abnormally elevated TNF-α levels (r = −0.19, p = 0.040) were negatively correlated with performance on the Trails in COVID-19 group.

Conclusion
Our findings suggest that COVID-19 survivors show long-term cognitive impairment in executive function, even at 15 months after discharge. Serum TNF-α levels may be an underlying mechanism of long-term cognitive impairment in patients recovering from COVID-19.

Open access, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1876201822004075

 

[Sean]

Conclusion
Our findings suggest that COVID-19 survivors show long-term cognitive impairment in executive function, even at 15 months after discharge.

 

[CRG]

Odd patient cohort - relatively young (median age 35.5), all hospitalized with COVID 19 with median stay 20 days, pre existing illness not recorded, gender split F23/M43. HC median age 29. I don't know what to make of it - seems a lot of of holes.

 

[rvallee]

Nothing but basic entry-level studies by the 3 year mark. Superficial work of such glacial pace that it makes sloths appear like meth-addicted headless chickens by comparison. When you read what clinicians are saying, most remain clueless but many of them are learning some things, it's minimal but you can actually see some level of learning, even if it's ultimately not helpful to us.

Compared to research, this is shocking as reading only from published research, there is clearly no learning going on, every bit of work is separate from all the others and nothing sticks. It's still fully stuck with a toe on the starting line. Nothing builds on itself, the effort just isn't there.

"Emerging". Pffft. This is the dullest end of a knife it's basically the handle, as far away from the cutting edge as it gets.