AUTHOR=Ariza Mar , Cano Neus , Segura Bàrbara , Adan Ana , Bargalló Núria , Caldú Xavier , Campabadal Anna , Jurado Maria Angeles , Mataró Maria , Pueyo Roser , Sala-Llonch Roser , Barrué Cristian , Bejar Javier , Cortés Claudio Ulises , NAUTILUS-Project Collaborative Group , Junqué Carme , Garolera Maite , Arauzo Vanesa , Bernia Jose A. , Balague-Marmaña Marta , Valles-Pauls Berta , Caballero Jesús , Carnes-Vendrell Anna , Piñol-Ripoll Gerard , Gonzalez-Aguado Ester , Tayó-Juli Carme , Forcadell-Ferreres Eva , Reverte-Vilarroya Silvia , Forné Susanna , Bartes-Plan Anna , Muñoz-Padros Jordina , Muñoz-Moreno Jose A. , Prats-Paris Anna , Rico Inmaculada , Sabé Nuria , Almeria Marta , Casas Laura , Ciudad Maria José , Ferré Anna , Garzon Tamar , Lozano Manuela , Cullell Marta , Vega Sonia , Alsina Sílvia , Maldonado-Belmonte Maria J. , Vazquez-Rivera Susana , Baillès Eva , Navarro Sandra TITLE=Neuropsychological impairment in post-COVID condition individuals with and without cognitive complaints JOURNAL=Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience VOLUME=14 YEAR=2022 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/aging-neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnagi.2022.1029842 DOI=10.3389/fnagi.2022.1029842 ISSN=1663-4365 ABSTRACT=

One of the most prevalent symptoms of post-COVID condition is cognitive impairment, which results in a significant degree of disability and low quality of life. In studies with large sample sizes, attention, memory, and executive function were reported as long-term cognitive symptoms. This study aims to describe cognitive dysfunction in large post-COVID condition individuals, compare objective neuropsychological performance in those post-COVID condition individuals with and without cognitive complaints, and identify short cognitive exams that can differentiate individuals with post-COVID symptoms from controls. To address these aims, the Nautilus project was started in June 2021. During the first year, we collected 428 participants’ data, including 319 post-COVID and 109 healthy controls (18–65 years old) from those who underwent a comprehensive neuropsychological battery for cognitive assessment. Scores on tests assessing global cognition, learning and long-term memory, processing speed, language and executive functions were significantly worse in the post-COVID condition group than in healthy controls. Montreal Cognitive Assessment, digit symbol test, and phonetic verbal fluency were significant in the binomial logistic regression model and could effectively distinguish patients from controls with good overall sensitivity and accuracy. Neuropsychological test results did not differ between those with and without cognitive complaints. Our research suggests that patients with post-COVID conditions experience significant cognitive impairment and that routine tests like the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, digit symbol, and phonetic verbal fluency test might identify cognitive impairment. Thus, the administration of these tests would be helpful for all patients with post-COVID-19 symptoms, regardless of whether cognitive complaints are present or absent.

Study registration

www.ClinicalTrials.gov, identifiers NCT05307549 and NCT05307575.