Cognitive decline in post-COVID-19 syndrome does not correspond with persisting neuronal or astrocytic damage
Abstract Cognitive impairment is the most frequent symptom reported in post-COVID-19 syndrome (PCS). Aetiology of cognitive impairment in PCS is still to be determined. Neurofilament light chain (NfL) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) are increased in acute COVID-19. Their role as biomarker...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-55881-1 |
| _version_ | 1797274919490289664 |
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| author | Fabian Boesl Yasemin Goereci Finja Schweitzer Carsten Finke Ann-Katrin Schild Stefan Bittner Falk Steffen Maria Schröder Anneke Quitschau Josephine Heine Clemens Warnke Christiana Franke |
| author_facet | Fabian Boesl Yasemin Goereci Finja Schweitzer Carsten Finke Ann-Katrin Schild Stefan Bittner Falk Steffen Maria Schröder Anneke Quitschau Josephine Heine Clemens Warnke Christiana Franke |
| author_sort | Fabian Boesl |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Cognitive impairment is the most frequent symptom reported in post-COVID-19 syndrome (PCS). Aetiology of cognitive impairment in PCS is still to be determined. Neurofilament light chain (NfL) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) are increased in acute COVID-19. Their role as biomarkers in other neurological disorders is under debate. We analysed serum levels of NfL and GFAP as markers for neuronal and astrocytic damage in 53 patients presenting to a PCS Neurology outpatient clinic. Only individuals with self-reported cognitive complaints were included. In these individuals, cognitive complaints were further assessed by comprehensive neuropsychological assessment (NPA). Patients were categorized into subgroups of subjective cognitive decline, single domain impairment, or multi-domain impairment. Serum NfL was in normal range, however an increase of serum GFAP was detected in 4% of patients. Serum NfL and GFAP levels correlated with each other, even when adjusting for patient age (r = 0.347, p = 0.012). NPA showed deficits in 70%; 40% showing impairment in several tested domains. No significant differences were found between serum NfL- and GFAP-levels comparing patients with subjective cognitive decline, single domain impairment, or multi-domain impairment. Persistent neuronal or astrocytic damage did not correlate with cognitive impairment in PCS. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T15:07:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2ed838f95d69483f9b244a397b22a402 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T15:07:01Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-2ed838f95d69483f9b244a397b22a4022024-03-05T18:52:24ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-03-011411810.1038/s41598-024-55881-1Cognitive decline in post-COVID-19 syndrome does not correspond with persisting neuronal or astrocytic damageFabian Boesl0Yasemin Goereci1Finja Schweitzer2Carsten Finke3Ann-Katrin Schild4Stefan Bittner5Falk Steffen6Maria Schröder7Anneke Quitschau8Josephine Heine9Clemens Warnke10Christiana Franke11Department of Neurology, Charité-University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of HealthDepartment of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of CologneDepartment of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of CologneDepartment of Neurology, Charité-University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of HealthDepartment of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of CologneDepartment of Neurology, Focus Program Translational Neuroscience (FTN) and Immunotherapy (FZI), University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University MainzDepartment of Neurology, Focus Program Translational Neuroscience (FTN) and Immunotherapy (FZI), University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University MainzDepartment of Neurology, Charité-University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of HealthDepartment of Neurology, Charité-University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of HealthDepartment of Neurology, Charité-University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of HealthDepartment of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of CologneDepartment of Neurology, Charité-University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of HealthAbstract Cognitive impairment is the most frequent symptom reported in post-COVID-19 syndrome (PCS). Aetiology of cognitive impairment in PCS is still to be determined. Neurofilament light chain (NfL) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) are increased in acute COVID-19. Their role as biomarkers in other neurological disorders is under debate. We analysed serum levels of NfL and GFAP as markers for neuronal and astrocytic damage in 53 patients presenting to a PCS Neurology outpatient clinic. Only individuals with self-reported cognitive complaints were included. In these individuals, cognitive complaints were further assessed by comprehensive neuropsychological assessment (NPA). Patients were categorized into subgroups of subjective cognitive decline, single domain impairment, or multi-domain impairment. Serum NfL was in normal range, however an increase of serum GFAP was detected in 4% of patients. Serum NfL and GFAP levels correlated with each other, even when adjusting for patient age (r = 0.347, p = 0.012). NPA showed deficits in 70%; 40% showing impairment in several tested domains. No significant differences were found between serum NfL- and GFAP-levels comparing patients with subjective cognitive decline, single domain impairment, or multi-domain impairment. Persistent neuronal or astrocytic damage did not correlate with cognitive impairment in PCS.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-55881-1 |
| spellingShingle | Fabian Boesl Yasemin Goereci Finja Schweitzer Carsten Finke Ann-Katrin Schild Stefan Bittner Falk Steffen Maria Schröder Anneke Quitschau Josephine Heine Clemens Warnke Christiana Franke Cognitive decline in post-COVID-19 syndrome does not correspond with persisting neuronal or astrocytic damage Scientific Reports |
| title | Cognitive decline in post-COVID-19 syndrome does not correspond with persisting neuronal or astrocytic damage |
| title_full | Cognitive decline in post-COVID-19 syndrome does not correspond with persisting neuronal or astrocytic damage |
| title_fullStr | Cognitive decline in post-COVID-19 syndrome does not correspond with persisting neuronal or astrocytic damage |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cognitive decline in post-COVID-19 syndrome does not correspond with persisting neuronal or astrocytic damage |
| title_short | Cognitive decline in post-COVID-19 syndrome does not correspond with persisting neuronal or astrocytic damage |
| title_sort | cognitive decline in post covid 19 syndrome does not correspond with persisting neuronal or astrocytic damage |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-55881-1 |
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