Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40244583›Full record

ArticleJAMA network open2025

COVID-19 Pandemic-Related Exposures and Cognitive Function in Middle-Aged Women.

Siwen Wang, Anthony Menor, Lori B Chibnik, Jae H Kang, Chirag M Vyas, Deborah L Blacker, Laura D Kubzansky, Karestan C Koenen, Andrea L Roberts

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in JAMA network open, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. 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

9 authors.

Siwen WangDepartment of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts.
Anthony MenorDepartment of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts.
Lori B ChibnikDepartment of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts.
Jae H KangChanning Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
Chirag M VyasDepartment of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston.
Deborah L BlackerDepartment of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts.
Laura D KubzanskyDepartment of Social and Behavioral Science, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts.
Karestan C KoenenDepartment of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts.
Andrea L RobertsDepartment of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts.

Funding

Research Education ComponentP30AG062421 · NIA · MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL · PI Christine S Ritchie · 2019 to 2026
$36.5M
Life Course Cancer Epidemiology Cohort in WomenU01CA176726 · NCI · HARVARD UNIVERSITY D/B/A HARVARD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH · PI ELIASSEN, A. HEATHER, WILLETT, WALTER C. · 2018 to 2025
$22.4M
Integrating lifecourse approaches, biologic and digital phenotypes in support of heart and lung disease epidemiologic researchU01HL145386 · NHLBI · HARVARD UNIVERSITY D/B/A HARVARD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH · PI CHAVARRO, JORGE EDUARDO, MANSON, JOANN ELISABETH · 2019 to 2025
$17.8M
Premonopausal Hormone Levels and Risk of Breast CancerR01CA067262 · NCI · HARVARD UNIVERSITY (SCH OF PUBLIC HLTH) · PI HANKINSON, SUSAN E · 2002 to 2011
$11.9M
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Accelerated Aging in WomenR01MH101269 · NIMH · HARVARD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH · PI KOENEN, KARESTAN C, KUBZANSKY, LAURA D · 2014 to 2021
$6.5M
Maternal Exposure to Childhood Abuse and Disparities in Offspring Neurodevelopment: Identifying MechanismsR01HD094725 · NICHD · HARVARD UNIVERSITY D/B/A HARVARD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH · PI ANDREA L. ROBERTS, ANDREA L. ROBERTS ANDREA L. ROBERTS · 2019 to 2024
$3.9M
Causes and Impact of Minority Stress on Health and Development in YouthR01HD057368 · NICHD · BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL · PI AUSTIN, S BRYN, ROSARIO, MARGARET · 2009 to 2013
$3.3M
Nurses Health Study 3: A multiple exposure environmental epidemiology cohort of young adultsR24ES028521 · NIEHS · HARVARD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH · PI CHAVARRO, JORGE EDUARDO, LADEN, FRANCINE · 2018 to 2022
$2.1M
NCI NIH HHS R01 CA067262NCI NIH HHS U01 CA176726NHLBI NIH HHS U01 HL145386NIA NIH HHS P30 AG062421NICHD NIH HHS R01 HD057368NICHD NIH HHS R01 HD094725NIEHS NIH HHS R24 ES028521NIMH NIH HHS R01 MH101269
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Importance: The COVID-19 pandemic has been associated with risk factors for cognitive decline, such as bereavement and SARS-CoV-2 infection. Objective: To examine whether the COVID-19 pandemic and pandemic-related exposures are associated with cognitive function among middle-aged women. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cohort study analyzed data from the Nurses' Health Study II, an ongoing study of registered nurses in the US. The present study focused on women aged 51 to 76 years who completed 2 to 8 objective cognitive assessments both prior to (October 1, 2014, to February 29, 2020) and during the COVID-19 pandemic (March 1, 2020, to September 30, 2022). Statistical analyses were performed from January 2023 to January 2025. Exposure: COVID-19 pandemic. Main Outcomes and Measures: Two standardized (ie, z-scored) composite cognitive scores (psychomotor speed and attention, learning and working memory) and a global score constituted the primary outcomes. Higher scores indicated better cognitive function. Cognitive function was assessed using the Cogstate Brief Battery, a computer-administered cognitive test battery. Participants completed cognitive assessments every 6 to 12 months. Results: A total of 5191 women (mean [SD] age at first cognitive assessment, 63.0 [4.8] years) completed both prepandemic and during-pandemic measures, contributing 23 678 cognitive assessments. After adjustment for age at cognitive assessment, educational level for both participants and their parents, cognitive test practice effects, and comorbidities (eg, diabetes, hypertension), no difference in cognitive function was observed between assessments taken during vs before the pandemic (psychomotor speed and attention: β = -0.01 SD [95% CI, -0.05 to 0.02 SD]; learning and working memory: β = 0.00 SD [95% CI, -0.03 to 0.03 SD]; global score: β = 0.00 SD [95% CI, -0.03 to 0.02 SD]). Among 4456 participants who responded to the COVID-19 substudy (ie, surveys about pandemic-related events), those with a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection (164 [3.7%]) or post-COVID-19 conditions (PCC; 62 [1.4%]), at a median (IQR) 20.0 (18.5-22.1) months after initial infection, had reduced cognitive function compared with women without infection or PCC; however, these differences did not reach statistical significance, and the wide CIs suggested considerable uncertainty. Conclusions and Relevance: This cohort study of middle-aged women found that the COVID-19 pandemic and pandemic-related events were not associated with cognitive decline up to 2.5 years after the onset of the pandemic. Future studies are needed to examine the long-term implications of SARS-CoV-2 infection and PCC for cognitive function.

Indexed as

CognitionCognitive DysfunctionCOVID-19AgedCohort StudiesFemaleHumansMiddle AgedNeuropsychological TestsPandemicsRisk FactorsSARS-CoV-2United States

Identifiers

PMID40244583
PMCPMC12006873

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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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.