ArticleExperimental brain research2023
Longitudinal changes in global structural brain connectivity and cognitive performance in former hospitalized COVID-19 survivors: an exploratory study.
Article in Experimental brain research, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.
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Who cites it
7 citing papers in PubMed, 14 citations in OpenAlex.
- Examining neuroimaging biomarkers, plasma biomarkers and cognitive functions in patients with recovered COVID-19 infection: a multicentre study using 7T MRI.Brain communications · 2026Article
- Neuroimaging biomarkers of post-acute sequelae of Coronavirus Disease 2019.The British journal of radiology · 2025Review
- Altered functional brain connectivity, efficiency, and information flow associated with brain fog after mild to moderate COVID-19 infection.Scientific reports · 2024Article
- On the merits and potential of advanced neuroimaging techniques in COVID-19: A scoping review.NeuroImage. Clinical · 2024Article
- COVID-19 and cognitive function: Evidence for increased processing speed variability in COVID-19 survivors and multifaceted impairment with long-COVID symptoms.European psychiatry : the journal of the Association of European Psychiatrists · 2023Article
- Is recovery just the beginning? Persistent symptoms and health and performance deterioration in post-COVID-19, non-hospitalized university students-a cross-sectional study.Biology methods & protocols · 2023Article
- Olfactory Loss and Brain Connectivity after COVID-19: Structural Follow-Up at One Year.Neural plasticity · 2023Article
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Authors and funding
26 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundLong-term sequelae of COVID-19 can result in reduced functionality of the central nervous system and substandard quality of life. Gaining insight into the recovery trajectory of admitted COVID-19 patients on their cognitive performance and global structural brain connectivity may allow a better understanding of the diseases' relevance.
objectivesTo assess whole-brain structural connectivity in former non-intensive-care unit (ICU)- and ICU-admitted COVID-19 survivors over 2 months following hospital discharge and correlate structural connectivity measures to cognitive performance.
methodsParticipants underwent Magnetic Resonance Imaging brain scans and a cognitive test battery after hospital discharge to evaluate structural connectivity and cognitive performance. Multilevel models were constructed for each graph measure and cognitive test, assessing the groups' influence, time since discharge, and interactions. Linear regression models estimated whether the graph measurements affected cognitive measures and whether they differed between ICU and non-ICU patients.
resultsSix former ICU and six non-ICU patients completed the study. Across the various graph measures, the characteristic path length decreased over time (β = 0.97, p = 0.006). We detected no group-level effects (β = 1.07, p = 0.442) nor interaction effects (β = 1.02, p = 0.220). Cognitive performance improved for both non-ICU and ICU COVID-19 survivors on four out of seven cognitive tests 2 months later (p < 0.05).
conclusionAdverse effects of COVID-19 on brain functioning and structure abate over time. These results should be supported by future research including larger sample sizes, matched control groups of healthy non-infected individuals, and more extended follow-up periods.
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