ArticleMolecular neurodegeneration2021
Post-infection cognitive impairments in a cohort of elderly patients with COVID-19.
Article in Molecular neurodegeneration, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 86 papers, 8 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
86 citing papers in PubMed, 8 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 170 citations in OpenAlex.
- Long-term neurological and cognitive impact of COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis in over 4 million patients.BMC neurology · 2025Pooled it
- Meta-analysis of Cognitive Function Following Non-severe SARS-CoV-2 Infection.Neuropsychology review · 2025Pooled it
- Risk of long covid in patients with pre-existing chronic respiratory diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMJ open respiratory research · 2025Pooled it
- Neurocognitive Impairment in Long COVID: A Systematic Review.Archives of clinical neuropsychology : the official journal of the National Academy of Neuropsychologists · 2025Pooled it
- Association between COVID-19 infection and new-onset dementia in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC geriatrics · 2024Pooled it
- Evidence from a meta-analysis and systematic review reveals the global prevalence of mild cognitive impairment.Frontiers in aging neuroscience · 2023Pooled it
- Risk factors and preventive interventions for post Covid-19 condition: systematic review.Emerging microbes & infections · 2022Pooled it
- Pooled it
- Cognitive function among COVID-19 survivors in the subacute phase during the epidemic of Omicron variant in China.Journal of Zhejiang University. Science. B · 2026Article
- Acute SARS-CoV-2 infection and self-reported post-acute cognitive dysfunctions from the Danish EFTER-COVID survey.Communications medicine · 2026Article
- Post-COVID cognitive dysfunction in socioeconomically-vulnerable older adults: findings from a Brazilian cohort.Arquivos de neuro-psiquiatria · 2026Article
- Effects of spontaneous breathing anesthesia on postoperative cognitive dysfunction in elderly patients: a narrative review.Frontiers in surgery · 2026Review
- Impact of physical activity on cognitive function in long COVID patients: a cross-sectional observational study.Frontiers in sports and active living · 2026Article
- Coupling between neural oscillations and white matter integrity reveals cognitive computational profiles following COVID-19.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- The SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein induces microglia senescence-mediated cognitive impairment via Glycolysis.Molecular medicine (Cambridge, Mass.) · 2025Article
- An approach for the emergency diagnosis and treatment of sepsis-associated encephalopathy in elderly individuals: a literature review.World journal of emergency medicine · 2025Review
- SARS-CoV-2 vaccination during pregnancy enhances offspring hippocampal neurogenesis and working memory via IFN-γ-responsive microglia.Communications biology · 2025Article
- Article
- Myelin dysfunction in aging and brain disorders: mechanisms and therapeutic opportunities.Molecular neurodegeneration · 2025Review
- Cognitive reserve, depressive symptoms, obesity, and change in employment status predict mental processing speed and executive function after COVID-19.European archives of psychiatry and clinical neuroscience · 2025Observational
26 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
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19 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
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Abstract
backgroundUnderstanding the long-term effects of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on cognitive function is essential for monitoring the cognitive decline in the elderly population. This study aims to assess the current cognitive status and the longitudinal cognitive decline in elderly patients recovered from COVID-19.
methodsThis cross-sectional study recruited 1539 COVID-19 inpatients aged over 60 years who were discharged from three COVID-19-designated hospitals in Wuhan, China, from February 10 to April 10, 2020. In total, 466 uninfected spouses of COVID-19 patients were selected as controls. The current cognitive status was assessed using a Chinese version of the Telephone Interview of Cognitive Status-40 (TICS-40) and the longitudinal cognitive decline was assessed using an Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the Elderly (IQCODE). Cognitive assessments were performed 6 months after patient discharge.
resultsCompared with controls, COVID-19 patients had lower TICS-40 scores and higher IQCODE scores [TICS-40 median (IQR): 29 (25 to 32) vs. 30 (26 to 33), p < 0.001; IQCODE median (IQR): 3.19 (3.00 to 3.63) vs. 3.06 (3.00 to 3.38), p < 0.001]. Severe COVID-19 patients had lower TICS-40 scores and higher IQCODE scores than non-severe COVID-19 patients [TICS-40 median (IQR): 24 (18 to 28) vs. 30 (26 to 33), p < 0.001; IQCODE median (IQR): 3.63 (3.13 to 4.31) vs. 3.13 (3.00 to 3.56), p < 0.001] and controls [TICS-40 median (IQR): 24 (18 to 28) vs. 30 (26 to 33), p < 0.001; IQCODE median (IQR) 3.63 (3.13 to 4.31) vs. 3.06 (3.00 to 3.38), p < 0.001]. Severe COVID-19 patients had a higher proportion of cases with current cognitive impairment and longitudinal cognitive decline than non-severe COVID-19 patients [dementia: 25 (10.50 %) vs. 9 (0.69 %), p < 0.001; Mild cognitive impairment (MCI): 60 (25.21 %) vs. 63 (4.84 %), p < 0.001] and controls [dementia: 25 (10.50 %) vs. 0 (0 %), p < 0.001; MCI: 60 (25.21 %) vs. 20 (4.29 %), p < 0.001)]. COVID-19 severity, delirium and COPD were risk factors of current cognitive impairment. Low education level, severe COVID-19, delirium, hypertension and COPD were risk factors of longitudinal cognitive decline.
conclusionsSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is associated with an increased risk of long-term cognitive decline in elderly population. COVID-19 patients, especially severe patients, should be intensively monitored for post-infection cognitive decline.
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