Memory alterations after COVID-19 infection: a systematic review

Llana, Tania; Zorzo, Candela; Méndez-López, Magdalena; Méndez, Marta

doi:10.1080/23279095.2022.2123739

Cited by 13 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 66 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…However, attention and executive function were not directly assessed by subjective questionnaires or objective tests in this study. We were mainly focused on declarative memory, as previous research has also found that this function is impaired in long-COVID patients ( Damiano et al, 2022 ; Delgado-Alonso et al, 2022 ; Voruz et al, 2022 ; Llana et al, 2022b ). However, attention and executive function are also significant processes affected in long-COVID patients ( Delgado-Alonso et al, 2022 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Long-term olfactory loss in long-COVID patients is associated with the development of neuropsychological alterations, including memory impairment ( Kay, 2022 ) and mood disturbances. Previous studies which assessed memory in long-COVID patients have mainly explored declarative verbal memory ( Llana et al, 2022b ). These studies have found impairment in verbal learning, verbal short-term memory and verbal long-term memory assessed with neuropsychological tests such as the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT), in both hospitalised and non-hospitalised adults ( Crivelli et al, 2022 ; García-Sánchez et al, 2022 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Association between olfactory dysfunction and mood disturbances with objective and subjective cognitive deficits in long-COVID

et al. 2023

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background and purposeThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been associated with olfactory dysfunction. The persistent symptoms of anosmia or hyposmia were associated in previous studies with the development of memory impairment and mood disturbances. We aimed to investigate the association between the chronicity of reported olfactory dysfunction and subjective and objective cognitive performance in long-COVID patients and to explore whether their emotional symptoms are related to their cognition.MethodsOne hundred twenty-eight long-COVID participants were recruited. Reported symptomatology, subjective memory complaints, anxiety and depression symptomatology, and trait-anxiety were assessed. Subjective memory complaints and mood disturbances were compared among groups of participants with olfactory dysfunction as an acute (AOD), persistent (POD), or nonexistent (NOD) symptom. Seventy-six of the volunteers also participated in a face-to-face session to assess their objective performance on tests of general cognitive function and verbal declarative memory. Objective cognitive performance and mood disturbances were compared among the AOD, POD, and NOD groups.ResultsThe subjective memory complaints and the anxiety and depression symptoms were similar among the groups, but the score in general cognitive function was lower in the participants with symptoms of acute olfactory dysfunction than in those with no olfactory symptoms at any time. Participants’ memory complaints were positively related to their emotional symptoms. The relationship between depressive symptomatology and memory complaints interacted with the olfactory dysfunction, as it only occurred in the participants without symptoms of olfactory dysfunction. Depressive symptomatology and acute olfactory symptoms were negatively associated with general cognitive function and delayed memory performance. The months elapsed from diagnosis to assessment also predicted delayed memory performance. Anxious symptomatology was negatively associated with the immediate ability to recall verbal information in participants who did not present olfactory dysfunction in the acute phase of the infection.ConclusionOlfactory dysfunction in the acute phase of the infection by COVID-19 is related to cognitive deficits in objective tests, and mood disturbances are associated with self-reported and objective memory. These findings may contribute to further understanding the neuropsychological and emotional aspects of long-COVID.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Association between olfactory dysfunction and mood disturbances with objective and subjective cognitive deficits in long-COVID

et al. 2023

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The amygdala has a key role in emotion regulation and stress response, which is relevant to post-COVID mood and mental health (41,42). Neuroplastic alterations of the amygdala may further affect memory (43), while the parahippocampal gyri are critical hubs to memory formation (44); this is an area of concern, as memory impairments often occur after COVID-19 infection (45) and were reported in a subset of participants in this study, via the "other" symptoms category. Superior temporal involvement is also noteworthy, given its role in speech and language (46); although post-COVID language issues are not commonly reported, concerns have been raised due to prior studies of viral infection (47).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of post-acute COVID-19 syndrome on the functional brain networks of non-hospitalized individuals

et al. 2023

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

IntroductionThe long-term impact of COVID-19 on brain function remains poorly understood, despite growing concern surrounding post-acute COVID-19 syndrome (PACS). The goal of this cross-sectional, observational study was to determine whether there are significant alterations in resting brain function among non-hospitalized individuals with PACS, compared to symptomatic individuals with non-COVID infection.MethodsData were collected for 51 individuals who tested positive for COVID-19 (mean age 41±12 yrs., 34 female) and 15 controls who had cold and flu-like symptoms but tested negative for COVID-19 (mean age 41±14 yrs., 9 female), with both groups assessed an average of 4-5 months after COVID testing. None of the participants had prior neurologic, psychiatric, or cardiovascular illness. Resting brain function was assessed via functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and self-reported symptoms were recorded.ResultsIndividuals with COVID-19 had lower temporal and subcortical functional connectivity relative to controls. A greater number of ongoing post-COVID symptoms was also associated with altered functional connectivity between temporal, parietal, occipital and subcortical regions.DiscussionThese results provide preliminary evidence that patterns of functional connectivity distinguish PACS from non-COVID infection and correlate with the severity of clinical outcome, providing novel insights into this highly prevalent disorder.

show abstract

“…Regarding the neuropsychological long-term alterations described in the long-COVID syndrome (Frontera et al, 2021;Graham et al, 2021), memory is the predominant function altered, but also executive functions and visuospatial function (Ardila and Lahiri, 2020;Beaud et al, 2021;Jaywant et al, 2021;Llana et al, 2022). In this sense, when assessing memory, most studies were designed to detect declarative memory impairment, and other memory systems were not so profoundly explored (Llana et al, 2022). Declarative memory consists of memory for events and facts that are stored and can be explicitly retrieved (Squire et al, 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several neuropsychological tests have been used to investigate the effects of the virus on declarative memory, such as the 16item Grober and Buschke Free/Cued Recall Paradigm, the Corsi Block Tapping test, and the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test. These studies have found impairment in longterm verbal and visuospatial memory, as well as verbal learning (Llana et al, 2022). The neuroanatomical bases of declarative memory rely on the medial temporal lobe, including the hippocampus and other structures of the limbic system, which participates in memory and emotion (Catani et al, 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anosmia in COVID-19 could be associated with long-term deficits in the consolidation of procedural and verbal declarative memories

et al. 2022

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background and purposeLong-COVID describes the long-term effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In long-COVID patients, neuropsychological alterations are frequently reported symptoms. Research points to medial temporal lobe dysfunction and its association with anosmia in long-COVID patients. This study aims to investigate the acquisition and consolidation of declarative and procedural memory in long-COVID patients and to explore whether anosmia is related to these dissociated memory functions.MethodsForty-two long-COVID participants and 30 controls (C) were recruited. The sample of long-COVID patients was divided into two groups based on the presence or absence of anosmia, group A and group NA, respectively. Objective performance in verbal declarative memory (Paired-Associate Learning, PAL), procedural memory (Mirror Tracing Test, MTT), general cognitive function (Montreal Cognitive Assessment scale), psychomotor speed, and incidental learning (Digit Symbol Substitution Test) were assessed and compared among the A, NA, and C groups. Long-term retention of PAL and MTT were assessed 24 h after acquisition.ResultsLower scores in general cognition, psychomotor speed, and sustained attention were found in A and NA compared with C. However, incidental learning, both cue-guided and free-recalled, was diminished in group A compared with C, with no differences with group NA. General cognition and incidental learning were related to declarative memory function exclusively in long-COVID groups. Long-COVID groups presented lower long-term retention of verbal declarative memory than controls in recall tests but no differences in recognition tests. No group differences were found in the acquisition of procedural memory. However, long-term retention of this memory was worse in group A as compared to the NA and C groups, respectively, when errors and time of execution were considered.ConclusionFindings support that consolidation of both procedural and declarative memories is more affected than the acquisition of these memories in long-COVID patients, who are also more vulnerable to deficits in delayed recall than in recognition of declarative memories. Deficits in the consolidation of procedural memory and immediate recall of declarative information are especially relevant in long-COVID participants with anosmia. This indicates that anosmia in COVID-19 could be associated with a long-term dysfunction of the limbic system.

show abstract

Memory alterations after COVID-19 infection: a systematic review

Cited by 13 publications

References 66 publications

Association between olfactory dysfunction and mood disturbances with objective and subjective cognitive deficits in long-COVID

Association between olfactory dysfunction and mood disturbances with objective and subjective cognitive deficits in long-COVID

Effects of post-acute COVID-19 syndrome on the functional brain networks of non-hospitalized individuals

Anosmia in COVID-19 could be associated with long-term deficits in the consolidation of procedural and verbal declarative memories

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About