TY - JOUR
T1 - Acute and long-term effects of COVID-19 on brain and mental health
T2 - A narrative review
AU - Bremner, J. Douglas
AU - Russo, Scott J.
AU - Gallagher, Richard
AU - Simon, Naomi M.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024
PY - 2025/1
Y1 - 2025/1
N2 - Background: COVID infection has been associated with long term sequalae (Long COVID) which include neurological and behavioral effects in thousands of patients, but the etiology and scope of symptoms is not well understood. This paper reviews long term sequelae of COVID on brain and mental health in patients with the Long COVID syndrome. Methods: This was a literature review which queried databases for Pubmed, Psychinfo, and Medline for the following topics for January 1, 2020-July 15, 2023: Long COVID, PASC, brain, brain imaging, neurological, neurobiology, mental health, anxiety, depression. Results: Tens of thousands of patients have developed Long COVID, with the most common neurobehavioral symptoms anosmia (loss of smell) and fatigue. Anxiety and mood disorders are elevated and seen in about 25% of Long COVID patients. Neuropsychological testing studies show a correlation between symptom severity and cognitive dysfunction, while brain imaging studies show global decreases in gray matter and alterations in olfactory and other brain areas. Conclusions: Studies to date show an increase in neurobehavioral disturbances in patients with Long COVID. Future research is needed to determine mechanisms.
AB - Background: COVID infection has been associated with long term sequalae (Long COVID) which include neurological and behavioral effects in thousands of patients, but the etiology and scope of symptoms is not well understood. This paper reviews long term sequelae of COVID on brain and mental health in patients with the Long COVID syndrome. Methods: This was a literature review which queried databases for Pubmed, Psychinfo, and Medline for the following topics for January 1, 2020-July 15, 2023: Long COVID, PASC, brain, brain imaging, neurological, neurobiology, mental health, anxiety, depression. Results: Tens of thousands of patients have developed Long COVID, with the most common neurobehavioral symptoms anosmia (loss of smell) and fatigue. Anxiety and mood disorders are elevated and seen in about 25% of Long COVID patients. Neuropsychological testing studies show a correlation between symptom severity and cognitive dysfunction, while brain imaging studies show global decreases in gray matter and alterations in olfactory and other brain areas. Conclusions: Studies to date show an increase in neurobehavioral disturbances in patients with Long COVID. Future research is needed to determine mechanisms.
KW - COVID
KW - Depression
KW - Immunity
KW - Infection
KW - Long COVID
KW - Olfactory bulb
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85208192354&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.bbi.2024.11.007
DO - 10.1016/j.bbi.2024.11.007
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:85208192354
SN - 0889-1591
VL - 123
SP - 928
EP - 945
JO - Brain, Behavior, and Immunity
JF - Brain, Behavior, and Immunity
ER -