Brain Sciences (Nov 2023)

Post-COVID-19 Cognitive Decline and Apoe Polymorphism: Towards a Possible Link?

  • José Wagner Leonel Tavares-Júnior,
  • Danilo Nunes Oliveira,
  • Jean Breno Silveira da Silva,
  • Werbety Lucas Queiroz Feitosa,
  • Artur Victor Menezes Sousa,
  • Samuel Cavalcante Marinho,
  • Letícia Chaves Vieira Cunha,
  • Safira de Brito Gaspar,
  • Carmem Meyve Pereira Gomes,
  • Laís Lacerda Brasil de Oliveira,
  • Caroline Aquino Moreira-Nunes,
  • Emmanuelle Silva Tavares Sobreira,
  • Maria Elisabete Amaral de Moraes,
  • Manoel Alves Sobreira-Neto,
  • Raquel Carvalho Montenegro,
  • Pedro Braga-Neto

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci13121611
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13, no. 12
p. 1611

Abstract

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APOE ε4 polymorphism has been recently described as a possible association with cognitive deficits in COVID-19 patients. This research aimed to establish the correlation between COVID-19 and cognitive impairment, and the APOE gene polymorphism among outpatients. We performed a cross-sectional study with confirmed COVID-19 patients and neurological symptoms that persisted for more than three months from onset. APOE genotypes were determined. The final number of patients included in this study was 219, of which 186 blood samples were collected for APOE genotyping, evaluated 4.5 months after COVID-19. Among the participants, 143 patients (65.3%) reported memory impairment symptoms as their primary concern. However, this complaint was objectively verified through screening tests (Addenbrooke Cognitive Examination-Revised and Mini-Mental State Examination) in only 36 patients (16.4%). The group experiencing cognitive decline exhibited a higher prevalence of the APOE ε4 allele than the normal group (30.8% vs. 16.4%, respectively, p = 0.038). Furthermore, the APOE ε4 allele and anxiety symptoms remained significant after multivariate analysis. This study assessed an outpatient population where cognitive changes were the primary complaint, even in mild cases. Moreover, the ε4 allele, sleep disorders, and anxiety symptoms were more frequent in the cognitive decline group.

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