Abstract:Introduction
Cognitive functioning and psychological well-being are considered negatively affected by COVID-19. An estimated 15%-40% of COVID-19 patients report disrupted cognitive performance. Higher rates of anxiety, depression and sleep disturbances are also reported post infection.
Objectives
We examined the profile of cognitive changes in a group of adults with a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis, compared to those without a COVID-19 diagnosis (cross-sectional between-subjects investigat… Show more
“…The sample consists of 138 of 222 adults who had been assessed 6 months earlier (T1; March 2021–March 2022) for our previous study investigating the cognitive impact of COVID-19 in working-age UK adults [18]. Of 222 participants (129 with and 93 without a history of COVID diagnosis) assessed at T1 [18], 71 (41 COVID, 30 non-COVID) were lost to the follow-up, and 13 non-COVID (at T1) participants were excluded due to them having tested COVID-19 positive between T1 and T2, leaving 138 participants (mean age: 39.72 ± 11.81) for this investigation (re-assessed at T2; September 2021–October 2022) (see Figure 1).…”
Section: Methodsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…The sample consists of 138 of 222 adults who had been assessed 6 months earlier (T1; March 2021–March 2022) for our previous study investigating the cognitive impact of COVID-19 in working-age UK adults [18]. Of 222 participants (129 with and 93 without a history of COVID diagnosis) assessed at T1 [18], 71 (41 COVID, 30 non-COVID) were lost to the follow-up, and 13 non-COVID (at T1) participants were excluded due to them having tested COVID-19 positive between T1 and T2, leaving 138 participants (mean age: 39.72 ± 11.81) for this investigation (re-assessed at T2; September 2021–October 2022) (see Figure 1). Of these 138 participants (current sample), 88 had a history of COVID-19 diagnosis (14 males, 74 females; mean days since diagnosis: 459 ± 180.84; range: 163–895) (to be referred to as the “COVID group”) and 50 had no known history of COVID-19 (11 males, 39 females; to be referred to as the “non-COVID group”).Figure 1. Study flowchart.…”
Section: Methodsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…As described in Vakani et al [18], data on demographics, mental health, and sleep were collected using self-report measures administered via Qualtrics (an online survey tool), taking ˜45 minutes in total to complete. Additionally, the COVID groups were asked to detail their COVID-19 diagnosis, acute symptoms at the time of infection, subjective psychological well-being and cognitive impairment, and chronic long-COVID symptoms at both T1 and T2.…”
Section: Methodsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…In our recent study [18] investigating the impact of COVID-19 on cognitive function and mental health in a working-age sample (mean age: 38.70 ± 12.08), we had found a limited cognitive impact of COVID-19 diagnosis, with only intra-individual variability in processing speed being significantly increased in COVID-19 survivors, compared to non-COVID controls. There was, however, multifaceted cognitive impairment in association with long-COVID symptoms.…”
Section: Introductionmentioning
confidence: 98%
“…Mental health and sleep quality were also worse in COVID-19 survivors, relative to non-COVID controls. Here, with a further assessment (6-month follow-up) of this previously assessed sample [18], we aimed to examine: (i) the longitudinal impact of COVID-19 on cognitive function, mental health, and sleep, first, on average, and then classified by COVID-19-related hospitalisation; and (ii) changes in long-COVID symptom load and their association with cognitive function, mental health and well-being at 6 months post the initial assessment. Based on previous findings [10–12, 14, 16, 19], we predicted: (i) a change towards normalisation of cognitive function, mental health, and sleep from study entry (T1) [18] to the 6-month follow-up (T2) assessments, on average, in the COVID group, relative to non-COVID group, and (ii) persistently impaired cognitive function, mental health, and sleep in participants with a history of COVID-19-related hospitalisation and/or ongoing long-COVID symptoms.…”
Background. There is considerable evidence of cognitive impairment post COVID-19, especially in individuals with long-COVID symptoms, but limited research objectively evaluating whether such impairment attenuates or resolves over time, especially in young and middle-aged adults. Methods. Follow-up assessments (T2) of cognitive function (processing speed, attention, working memory, executive function, memory) and mental health were conducted in 138 adults (18-69 years) who had been assessed 6 months earlier (T1). Of these, 88 had a confirmed history of COVID-19 at T1 assessment (≥20 days post-diagnosis) and were also followed-up on COVID-19-related symptoms (acute and long-COVID); 50 adults had no known COVID-19 history at any point up to their T2 assessment. Results. From T1 to T2, a trend-level improvement occurred in intra-individual variability in processing speed in the COVID, relative to the non-COVID group. However, longer response/task completion times persisted in participants with COVID-19-related hospitalisation relative to those without COVID-19-related hospitalisation and non-COVID controls. There was a significant reduction in long-COVID symptom load, which correlated with improved executive function in non-hospitalised COVID-19 participants. The COVID group continued to self-report poorer mental health, irrespective of hospitalisation history, relative to non-COVID group. Conclusions. Although some cognitive improvement has occurred over a 6-month period in young and middle-aged COVID-19 survivors, cognitive impairment persists in those with a history of COVID-19-related hospitalisation and/or long-COVID symptoms. Continuous follow-up assessments are required to determine whether cognitive function improves or possibly worsens, over time in hospitalised and long-COVID participants.
“…The sample consists of 138 of 222 adults who had been assessed 6 months earlier (T1; March 2021–March 2022) for our previous study investigating the cognitive impact of COVID-19 in working-age UK adults [18]. Of 222 participants (129 with and 93 without a history of COVID diagnosis) assessed at T1 [18], 71 (41 COVID, 30 non-COVID) were lost to the follow-up, and 13 non-COVID (at T1) participants were excluded due to them having tested COVID-19 positive between T1 and T2, leaving 138 participants (mean age: 39.72 ± 11.81) for this investigation (re-assessed at T2; September 2021–October 2022) (see Figure 1).…”
Section: Methodsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…The sample consists of 138 of 222 adults who had been assessed 6 months earlier (T1; March 2021–March 2022) for our previous study investigating the cognitive impact of COVID-19 in working-age UK adults [18]. Of 222 participants (129 with and 93 without a history of COVID diagnosis) assessed at T1 [18], 71 (41 COVID, 30 non-COVID) were lost to the follow-up, and 13 non-COVID (at T1) participants were excluded due to them having tested COVID-19 positive between T1 and T2, leaving 138 participants (mean age: 39.72 ± 11.81) for this investigation (re-assessed at T2; September 2021–October 2022) (see Figure 1). Of these 138 participants (current sample), 88 had a history of COVID-19 diagnosis (14 males, 74 females; mean days since diagnosis: 459 ± 180.84; range: 163–895) (to be referred to as the “COVID group”) and 50 had no known history of COVID-19 (11 males, 39 females; to be referred to as the “non-COVID group”).Figure 1. Study flowchart.…”
Section: Methodsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…As described in Vakani et al [18], data on demographics, mental health, and sleep were collected using self-report measures administered via Qualtrics (an online survey tool), taking ˜45 minutes in total to complete. Additionally, the COVID groups were asked to detail their COVID-19 diagnosis, acute symptoms at the time of infection, subjective psychological well-being and cognitive impairment, and chronic long-COVID symptoms at both T1 and T2.…”
Section: Methodsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…In our recent study [18] investigating the impact of COVID-19 on cognitive function and mental health in a working-age sample (mean age: 38.70 ± 12.08), we had found a limited cognitive impact of COVID-19 diagnosis, with only intra-individual variability in processing speed being significantly increased in COVID-19 survivors, compared to non-COVID controls. There was, however, multifaceted cognitive impairment in association with long-COVID symptoms.…”
Section: Introductionmentioning
confidence: 98%
“…Mental health and sleep quality were also worse in COVID-19 survivors, relative to non-COVID controls. Here, with a further assessment (6-month follow-up) of this previously assessed sample [18], we aimed to examine: (i) the longitudinal impact of COVID-19 on cognitive function, mental health, and sleep, first, on average, and then classified by COVID-19-related hospitalisation; and (ii) changes in long-COVID symptom load and their association with cognitive function, mental health and well-being at 6 months post the initial assessment. Based on previous findings [10–12, 14, 16, 19], we predicted: (i) a change towards normalisation of cognitive function, mental health, and sleep from study entry (T1) [18] to the 6-month follow-up (T2) assessments, on average, in the COVID group, relative to non-COVID group, and (ii) persistently impaired cognitive function, mental health, and sleep in participants with a history of COVID-19-related hospitalisation and/or ongoing long-COVID symptoms.…”
Background. There is considerable evidence of cognitive impairment post COVID-19, especially in individuals with long-COVID symptoms, but limited research objectively evaluating whether such impairment attenuates or resolves over time, especially in young and middle-aged adults. Methods. Follow-up assessments (T2) of cognitive function (processing speed, attention, working memory, executive function, memory) and mental health were conducted in 138 adults (18-69 years) who had been assessed 6 months earlier (T1). Of these, 88 had a confirmed history of COVID-19 at T1 assessment (≥20 days post-diagnosis) and were also followed-up on COVID-19-related symptoms (acute and long-COVID); 50 adults had no known COVID-19 history at any point up to their T2 assessment. Results. From T1 to T2, a trend-level improvement occurred in intra-individual variability in processing speed in the COVID, relative to the non-COVID group. However, longer response/task completion times persisted in participants with COVID-19-related hospitalisation relative to those without COVID-19-related hospitalisation and non-COVID controls. There was a significant reduction in long-COVID symptom load, which correlated with improved executive function in non-hospitalised COVID-19 participants. The COVID group continued to self-report poorer mental health, irrespective of hospitalisation history, relative to non-COVID group. Conclusions. Although some cognitive improvement has occurred over a 6-month period in young and middle-aged COVID-19 survivors, cognitive impairment persists in those with a history of COVID-19-related hospitalisation and/or long-COVID symptoms. Continuous follow-up assessments are required to determine whether cognitive function improves or possibly worsens, over time in hospitalised and long-COVID participants.
IntroductionA significant proportion of people report persistent COVID-19-related anosmia, hyposmia or parosmia, often accompanied with ageusia, hypogeusia or dysgeusia. Here, we present a proof-of-concept study that assessed the feasibility and acceptability of a new Camera-Based Visual Feedback Learning Aid (CVFLA) and explored its potential to restore or improve persistent COVID-19-related smell and/or taste impairment.MethodsFifteen adult participants with persistent smell and/or taste impairment were randomly allocated to 7-, 14-, or 21-days baseline of symptom monitoring before receiving the intervention in up to 10 sessions (length and frequency determined by participant’s preference and progress) using a specialised CVFLA apparatus (patent no. 10186160). Smell and taste were assessed pre- and post-intervention subjectively, and also objectively using the ODOFIN Taste Strips and Sniffin Sticks. Participant feedback about their experience of receiving CVFLA was obtained via a semi-structured interview conducted by someone not involved in delivering the intervention.ResultsThe intervention was extremely well received, with no dropouts related to the intervention. There was also a significant improvement in smell and taste from pre- to post-CVFLA intervention (mean number of sessions = 7.46, SD = 2.55; total duration = 389.96 min, SD = 150.93) both in subjective and objective measures. All participants, except one, reported experiencing some improvement from the 2nd or 3rd session.DiscussionThis new CVFLA intervention shows promise in improving COVID-19 related impairment in smell and taste with a very high level of acceptability. Further studies with larger samples are required to confirm its potential in restoring, improving or correcting smell and/or taste impairment in relevant clinical and non-clinical groups.
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