Rinsho Shinkeigaku (Clinical Neurology)

Review

Cognitive Impairment as a Sequela of COVID-19: Pathophysiology and Prospects for Treatment

Takayoshi Shimohata, M.D., Ph.D.1)

1) Department of Neurology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine

Cognitive impairment has been reported as a potential sequela of COVID-19. Risk factors associated with this impairment include advanced age, severe infection, and prolonged duration of anosmia (loss of smell). Furthermore, COVID-19 has been reported as a risk factor for Alzheimer disease, and even mild infections have been associated with visuospatial cognitive impairments. While multiple pathophysiological mechanisms have been implicated in COVID-19-related cognitive impairment, persistent infection by the SARS-CoV-2 virus is of particular interest due to its potential implications for treatment. Persistent infection could lead to cognitive impairments through mechanisms such as neurotoxicity mediated by spike proteins, neuroinflammation induced by cytokines, and neuronal cell fusion (syncytia). In terms of treatment, the effectiveness of vaccination has been demonstrated in meta-analyses, and drugs like metformin and antiviral agents hold promise.
Full Text of this Article in Japanese PDF (889K)

(CLINICA NEUROL, 63: 725|731, 2023)
key words: COVID-19, cognitive impairment, Alzheimer disease, persistent infection, treatment

(Received: 10-Jul-23)