Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38470899›Full record

ArticlePloS one2024

SARS-CoV2 evokes structural brain changes resulting in declined executive function.

Daniel Deuter, Katharina Hense, Kevin Kunkel, Johanna Vollmayr, Sebastian Schachinger, Christina Wendl, Andreas Schicho, Claudia Fellner, Bernd Salzberger, Florian Hitzenbichler and 5 more

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
4.0field-weighted citation impact, top 6% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 10 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Neurodegenerative and Cognitive Consequences of Long COVID.International journal of molecular sciences · 2026
    Review
  3. Article
  4. Neuroimmune pathophysiology of long COVID.Psychiatry and clinical neurosciences · 2025
    Review
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

15 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Daniel DeuterKlinik und Poliklinik für Neurochirurgie, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.ORCID 0000-0001-6166-4458
Katharina HenseKlinik und Poliklinik für Neurochirurgie, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.ORCID 0000-0001-7583-2926
Kevin KunkelKlinik und Poliklinik für Neurochirurgie, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
Johanna VollmayrKlinik und Poliklinik für Neurochirurgie, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
Sebastian SchachingerKlinik und Poliklinik für Neurochirurgie, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
Christina WendlInstitut für Röntgendiagnostik, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
Andreas SchichoInstitut für Röntgendiagnostik, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
Claudia FellnerInstitut für Röntgendiagnostik, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
Bernd SalzbergerAbteilung für Krankenhaushygiene und Infektiologie, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
Florian HitzenbichlerAbteilung für Krankenhaushygiene und Infektiologie, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
Judith ZellerKlinik und Poliklinik für Innere Medizin II, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
Veronika VielsmeierKlinik und Poliklinik für Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Heilkunde, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
Frank Dodoo-SchittkoInstitut für Sozialmedizin und Gesundheitsforschung, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.
Nils Ole SchmidtKlinik und Poliklinik für Neurochirurgie, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
Katharina RosengarthKlinik und Poliklinik für Neurochirurgie, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
University Hospital Regensburg · DEOtto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg · DE

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSeveral research has underlined the multi-system character of COVID-19. Though effects on the Central Nervous System are mainly discussed as disease-specific affections due to the virus' neurotropism, no comprehensive disease model of COVID-19 exists on a neurofunctional base by now. We aimed to investigate neuroplastic grey- and white matter changes related to COVID-19 and to link these changes to neurocognitive testings leading towards a multi-dimensional disease model.

methodsGroups of acutely ill COVID-19 patients (n = 16), recovered COVID-19 patients (n = 21) and healthy controls (n = 13) were prospectively included into this study. MR-imaging included T1-weighted sequences for analysis of grey matter using voxel-based morphometry and diffusion-weighted sequences to investigate white matter tracts using probabilistic tractography. Comprehensive neurocognitive testing for verbal and non-verbal domains was performed.

resultsAlterations strongly focused on grey matter of the frontal-basal ganglia-thalamus network and temporal areas, as well as fiber tracts connecting these areas. In acute COVID-19 patients, a decline of grey matter volume was found with an accompanying diminution of white matter tracts. A decline in executive function and especially verbal fluency was found in acute patients, partially persisting in recovered.

conclusionChanges in gray matter volume and white matter tracts included mainly areas involved in networks of executive control and language. Deeper understanding of these alterations is necessary especially with respect to long-term impairments, often referred to as 'Post-COVID'.

Indexed as

COVID-19White MatterBrainExecutive FunctionGray MatterHumansMagnetic Resonance ImagingRNA, ViralSARS-CoV-2RNA, Viral

Identifiers

PMID38470899
PMCPMC10931481
OpenAlexW4392716630

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.