Long-term effects of COVID-19 on the central nervous system

Neurological and psychiatric sequelae of COVID-19 have frequently been reported, for example “brain fog”, fatigue, headache and cognitive impairment, but the neuropathogenesis is still largely unknown.We aim to study long-term neurological symptoms and effects on the central nervous system (CNS) in SARS-CoV-2 infection.

More specifically:Neurological sequelae, including characterization of cognitive impairmentNeurocognitive manifestations in relation to biomarkers and neuroimaging changesPatients ≥18-years with confirmed COVID-19 are included from an ongoing longitudinal cohort at the Sahlgrenska University Hospital.

Hospitalized patients with moderate or severe COVID-19 as well as non-hospitalized patients with mild disease are followed longitudinally with blood sampling and clinical assessments. From this cohort, patients with post-COVID CNS symptoms will be asked for participation.

Patients from the same cohort but without post-COVID symptoms and healthy controls will be included as controls.Longitudinal blood and CSF samples will be collected for biomarker analysis and MRI, positron emission tomography (PET) and neuropsychological testing will be performed repeatedly. Follow-up time is planned to 36 months.Our study will increase the knowledge of CNS complications caused by SARS-CoV-2.

Understanding of basic aspects of CNS pathogenesis in SARS-CoV-2 infection is a prerequisite for development of effective treatment modalities of post-acute neuro-COVID.