Moderator of 1 Session
Presenter of 3 Presentations
HISTORY AND USE OF FDG PET IN ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE
EXPLORING THE BASIS OF COVID-19-RELATED NEUROLOGICAL SEQUELAE: 12-MONTH LONGITUDINAL DATA FROM THE SAHLGRENSKA NEUROCOVID STUDY
Abstract
Aims
Patients with COVID-19 often report and present with a wide range of neurological symptoms, but the underlying mechanisms have only scarcely been characterised. The Sahlgrenska NeuroCOVID Study aims to map neurological sequelae in COVID-19 patients longitudinally focussing on multi-domain cognitive impairment and associated processes using a wide array of neuropsychological, fluid biomarker and neuroimaging assessments.
Methods
We have recruited 20 previously hospitalised COVID-19 patients (Group 1) who have either been treated with high-flow oxygen, several of which at the ICU (severe disease severity), or with oxygen (moderate), 20 convalescent patients (Group 2) with persisting neurological or cognitive symptoms and 20 age-matched healthy controls (HC). All subjects have undergone longitudinal comprehensive structural and functional MRI and [18F]FDG PET brain imaging, lumbar puncture, blood sampling and thorough neuropsychological examination including testing of olfactory and gustatory function; Group 1 was examined on four occasions, Group 2 on two and HC on one over the 12-month course of the study.
Results
Preliminary findings after six months showed that patients hospitalised with COVID-19 performed worse in tests for execute function and attention/speed in the post-acute phase, independent of acute disease severity, and showed reduced grey matter volume in the orbito-/medial prefrontal and anterior cingulate cortex. Patients who were hospitalised for COVID-19 and did not seek care for persisting symptoms later seemed to recover initial grey matter loss and cognitive impairment. White matter hyperintensities were generally more common in the patient groups but did not increase post-infection, likely representing a pre-existing condition.
Conclusions
There is a great need to understand the mechanisms underlying the multi-faceted long-term neurological consequences of COVID-19. We will present detailed 12-month longitudinal data focusing on the relationship between cognitive performance and bodily fluid- and neuroimaging-derived biomarkers.