Frontiers in Neurology (Aug 2024)
Effects of post-acute COVID-19 syndrome on cerebral white matter and emotional health among non-hospitalized individuals
- Nathan W. Churchill,
- Nathan W. Churchill,
- Nathan W. Churchill,
- Eugenie Roudaia,
- J. Jean Chen,
- J. Jean Chen,
- J. Jean Chen,
- Allison Sekuler,
- Allison Sekuler,
- Allison Sekuler,
- Fuqiang Gao,
- Mario Masellis,
- Mario Masellis,
- Mario Masellis,
- Benjamin Lam,
- Benjamin Lam,
- Benjamin Lam,
- Ivy Cheng,
- Ivy Cheng,
- Ivy Cheng,
- Chris Heyn,
- Chris Heyn,
- Sandra E. Black,
- Sandra E. Black,
- Sandra E. Black,
- Bradley J. MacIntosh,
- Bradley J. MacIntosh,
- Bradley J. MacIntosh,
- Bradley J. MacIntosh,
- Simon J. Graham,
- Simon J. Graham,
- Simon J. Graham,
- Tom A. Schweizer,
- Tom A. Schweizer,
- Tom A. Schweizer
Affiliations
- Nathan W. Churchill
- Brain Health and Wellness Research Program, St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Nathan W. Churchill
- Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science of St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Nathan W. Churchill
- Physics Department, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Eugenie Roudaia
- Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Academy for Research and Education, Toronto, ON, Canada
- J. Jean Chen
- Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Academy for Research and Education, Toronto, ON, Canada
- J. Jean Chen
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- J. Jean Chen
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Allison Sekuler
- Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Academy for Research and Education, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Allison Sekuler
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Allison Sekuler
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- Fuqiang Gao
- Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Mario Masellis
- Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Academy for Research and Education, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Mario Masellis
- Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Mario Masellis
- 0Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Benjamin Lam
- Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Academy for Research and Education, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Benjamin Lam
- Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Benjamin Lam
- 0Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Ivy Cheng
- 1Evaluative Clinical Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Ivy Cheng
- 2Integrated Community Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Ivy Cheng
- 3Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Chris Heyn
- Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Chris Heyn
- 4Department of Medical Imaging, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Sandra E. Black
- Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Academy for Research and Education, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Sandra E. Black
- Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Sandra E. Black
- 0Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Bradley J. MacIntosh
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Bradley J. MacIntosh
- Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Bradley J. MacIntosh
- 5Physical Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Bradley J. MacIntosh
- 6Computational Radiology and Artificial Intelligence Unit, Division of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Simon J. Graham
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Simon J. Graham
- Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Simon J. Graham
- 5Physical Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Tom A. Schweizer
- Brain Health and Wellness Research Program, St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Tom A. Schweizer
- Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science of St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Tom A. Schweizer
- 7Faculty of Medicine (Neurosurgery), University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2024.1432450
- Journal volume & issue
-
Vol. 15
Abstract
IntroductionPost-acute COVID syndrome (PACS) is a growing concern, given its impact on mental health and quality of life. However, its effects on cerebral white matter remain poorly understood, particularly in non-hospitalized cohorts. The goals of this cross-sectional, observational study were to examine (1) whether PACS was associated with distinct alterations in white matter microstructure, compared to symptom-matched non-COVID viral infection; and (2) whether microstructural alterations correlated with indices of post-COVID emotional health.MethodsData were collected for 54 symptomatic individuals who tested positive for COVID-19 (mean age 41 ± 12 yrs., 36 female) and 14 controls who tested negative for COVID-19 (mean age 41 ± 14 yrs., 8 female), with both groups assessed an average of 4–5 months after COVID testing. Diffusion magnetic resonance imaging data were collected, and emotional health was assessed via the NIH emotion toolbox, with summary scores indexing social satisfaction, well-being and negative affect.ResultsDespite similar symptoms, the COVID-19 group had reduced mean and axial diffusivity, along with increased mean kurtosis and neurite dispersion, in deep white matter. After adjusting for social satisfaction, higher levels of negative affect in the COVID-19 group were also correlated with increased mean kurtosis and reduced free water in white matter.DiscussionThese results provide preliminary evidence that indices of white matter microstructure distinguish PACS from symptomatic non-COVID infection. Moreover, white matter effects seen in PACS correlate with the severity of emotional sequelae, providing novel insights into this highly prevalent disorder.
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