The study covered in this summary was published on medRxiv.org as a preprint and has not yet been peer reviewed.
Key Takeaways
In the months after infection with COVID-19 (post-COVID condition), adults who previously self-isolated at home with COVID-19 exhibited decreased cerebral blood flow (CBF) in the thalamus, orbitofrontal cortex, and regions of the basal ganglia when compared with patients with flu-like symptoms without COVID-19 diagnosis.
Among patients with COVID-19 who self-isolated, patients with self-reported ongoing fatigue had CBF differences in the occipital and parietal regions when compared with patients without self-reported ongoing fatigue.
Why This Matters
The long-term consequences of COVID-19 on brain physiology and function are still being characterized and are needed to relieve pressure on strained healthcare systems worldwide.
The study suggested cerebral blood flow evaluation may signify long-term changes in brain physiology in adults across the post-COVID timeframe.
Cerebral blood flow studies may contribute to characterize the heterogenous symptoms of the post-COVID condition.
Study Design
This observational cohort study included a total of 50 patients who were recruited from the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center between May 2020 and September 2021. Patients were between age 20-75 years with evidence of positive or negative COVID-19 diagnosis.
Excluded patients from the study had a previous diagnosis of dementia, an existing neurologic disorder, previous
