Research presented at Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) 2021 found links between COVID-19 and persistent cognitive deficits, including the pathology and symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. Investigators also found that cognitive impairment in recovered COVID-19 patients was also found to be correlated with persistent loss of smell.
“These new data point to worrying trends showing that COVID-19 infections lead to permanent cognitive impairment and even Alzheimer’s symptoms,” said Heather M. Snyder, PhD, vice president of medical and scientific relations for the Alzheimer’s Association. in a press release. “With more than 180 million cases and nearly 4 million deaths worldwide, COVID-19 has devastated the entire world. It is imperative that we continue to investigate what this virus is doing to our bodies and brains. The Alzheimer’s Association and its partners are leading the way, but more research is needed. “
In addition to the respiratory and gastrointestinal complications associated with COVID-19, many patients experience short- and / or long-term neuropsychiatric symptoms, including loss of smell and taste, and cognitive and attention deficits commonly known as “brain fog”.
These neurological symptoms persist in certain patients. Investigators are currently working to understand the mechanisms behind the cognitive dysfunction caused by SARS-CoV-2 and what it could mean for the long-term cognitive health of these patients.
Investigators rated the cognition and sense of smell of a cohort of nearly 300 older adults who had COVID-19. Participants were observed between 3 and 6 months after the COVID-19 infection.
More than half of the study participants had persistent problems with forgetfulness. In addition, 1 in 4 patients had additional cognitive problems, including language and executive disorders. These difficulties were associated with persistent odor problems regardless of the severity of the original COVID-19 symptoms.
“We’re seeing clear links between COVID-19 and cognitive problems just months after being infected,” said Gabriel de Erausquin, MD, PhD, MSc, in the press release. “It is imperative that we continue to study this population and others around the world over an extended period of time to better understand the long-term neurological effects of COVID-19.”
A separate study also found that people who recovered from COVID-19 and experienced cognitive decline were more likely to be in poor physical condition and have lower levels of oxygen saturation. Investigators analyzed cognitive impairment and related health measures in 32 previously hospitalized patients who had mild to moderate COVID-19 2 months after discharge from the hospital.
Worse cognitive test scores in these patients were associated with older age, higher waist sizes, and higher waist-to-hip ratios, according to investigators. In addition, after adjusting for age and gender, poorer memory and thinking scores have been independently linked to lower oxygen saturation during the 6-minute walk test, a metric often used to measure the functional capacity of people with cardiopulmonary disease to judge.
“A brain without oxygen is not healthy, and persistent deficiency can very well contribute to cognitive difficulties,” said George Vavougios, MD, PhD, postdoctoral fellow at the University of Thessaly, in the press release. “These data suggest some common biological mechanisms between the dycognitive spectrum of COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 fatigue that have been anecdotally reported in the past few months.”
A NOTICE
COVID-19 linked to long-term cognitive dysfunction, acceleration of Alzheimer’s symptoms [news release]. AAIC; July 29, 2021. Accessed August 5, 2021.
