Global slowness and increased intra-individual variability are key features of attentional deficits and cognitive fluctuations in post COVID-19 patients
Abstract Fatigue, attentional deficits and cognitive fluctuations are the most characterizing symptoms of neurological involvement in Post COVID-19 syndrome (PCS). As the intraindividual variability (IIV) in cognitive performances has been recognized as a hallmark of brain-related disorders associat...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2022-07-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-17463-x |
| _version_ | 1811222353870323712 |
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| author | Paola Ortelli Francesco Benso Davide Ferrazzoli Ilaria Scarano Leopold Saltuari Luca Sebastianelli Viviana Versace Roberto Maestri |
| author_facet | Paola Ortelli Francesco Benso Davide Ferrazzoli Ilaria Scarano Leopold Saltuari Luca Sebastianelli Viviana Versace Roberto Maestri |
| author_sort | Paola Ortelli |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Fatigue, attentional deficits and cognitive fluctuations are the most characterizing symptoms of neurological involvement in Post COVID-19 syndrome (PCS). As the intraindividual variability (IIV) in cognitive performances has been recognized as a hallmark of brain-related disorders associated with cognitive deficits, it could be an interesting measure to elucidate the mechanisms subtending both the attentive impairment and the cognitive fluctuations in these patients. By referring to IIV analysis of Reaction Times (RTs), the present study aims to define the attentive impairment and its relation to fluctuations and fatigue, in patients suffering from Post COVID-19 neurological symptoms. 74 patients were enrolled. They underwent an extensive clinical and neuropsychological assessments, as well as computerized Sustained Attention and Stroop tasks. For studying IIV, RTs distributions of performances in computerized tasks were fitted with ex-Gaussian distribution, for obtaining the τ values. Finally, the Resting Motor Threshold (RMT) was also collected to estimate cortical excitability. 29 healthy volunteers served as controls. Patients showed poorer scores in Montreal Cognitive Assessment and higher RMT, in comparison with controls. In Sustained Attention Task, Mean, µ, σ and τ values were significantly higher in PCS patients (p value = < 0.0001; 0.001; 0.018 and < 0.0001, respectively). Repeated measures ANOVA comparing the RTs mean in Stroop task within-subject and between-subjects revealed significant condition and group effect (p < 0.0001 both) and significant interaction (p = 0.005), indicating worst performances in patients. The mean of the derived interference value was significantly higher in PCS patients than in controls (p = 0.036). Patients suffering from PCS show deficits in attention, both in the sustained and executive components. Both high RTs means and high IIV subtend these deficits and could explain the often-complained cognitive fluctuations in this population. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T08:14:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-705f040b317f4bbdb09229d6d7078440 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T08:14:27Z |
| publishDate | 2022-07-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-705f040b317f4bbdb09229d6d70784402022-12-22T03:40:51ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222022-07-011211910.1038/s41598-022-17463-xGlobal slowness and increased intra-individual variability are key features of attentional deficits and cognitive fluctuations in post COVID-19 patientsPaola Ortelli0Francesco Benso1Davide Ferrazzoli2Ilaria Scarano3Leopold Saltuari4Luca Sebastianelli5Viviana Versace6Roberto Maestri7Department of Neurorehabilitation, Hospital of Vipiteno (SABES-ASDAA) - Lehrkrankenhaus der Paracelsus Medizinischen PrivatuniversitätLaboratory of Observational, Diagnosis and Education (ODFLab), Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science, University of TrentoDepartment of Neurorehabilitation, Hospital of Vipiteno (SABES-ASDAA) - Lehrkrankenhaus der Paracelsus Medizinischen PrivatuniversitätDepartment of Geriatrics, Memory Clinic, Hospital of Merano (SABES-ASDAA)Department of Neurorehabilitation, Hospital of Vipiteno (SABES-ASDAA) - Lehrkrankenhaus der Paracelsus Medizinischen PrivatuniversitätDepartment of Neurorehabilitation, Hospital of Vipiteno (SABES-ASDAA) - Lehrkrankenhaus der Paracelsus Medizinischen PrivatuniversitätDepartment of Neurorehabilitation, Hospital of Vipiteno (SABES-ASDAA) - Lehrkrankenhaus der Paracelsus Medizinischen PrivatuniversitätIRCCS Istituti Clinici Scientifici MaugeriAbstract Fatigue, attentional deficits and cognitive fluctuations are the most characterizing symptoms of neurological involvement in Post COVID-19 syndrome (PCS). As the intraindividual variability (IIV) in cognitive performances has been recognized as a hallmark of brain-related disorders associated with cognitive deficits, it could be an interesting measure to elucidate the mechanisms subtending both the attentive impairment and the cognitive fluctuations in these patients. By referring to IIV analysis of Reaction Times (RTs), the present study aims to define the attentive impairment and its relation to fluctuations and fatigue, in patients suffering from Post COVID-19 neurological symptoms. 74 patients were enrolled. They underwent an extensive clinical and neuropsychological assessments, as well as computerized Sustained Attention and Stroop tasks. For studying IIV, RTs distributions of performances in computerized tasks were fitted with ex-Gaussian distribution, for obtaining the τ values. Finally, the Resting Motor Threshold (RMT) was also collected to estimate cortical excitability. 29 healthy volunteers served as controls. Patients showed poorer scores in Montreal Cognitive Assessment and higher RMT, in comparison with controls. In Sustained Attention Task, Mean, µ, σ and τ values were significantly higher in PCS patients (p value = < 0.0001; 0.001; 0.018 and < 0.0001, respectively). Repeated measures ANOVA comparing the RTs mean in Stroop task within-subject and between-subjects revealed significant condition and group effect (p < 0.0001 both) and significant interaction (p = 0.005), indicating worst performances in patients. The mean of the derived interference value was significantly higher in PCS patients than in controls (p = 0.036). Patients suffering from PCS show deficits in attention, both in the sustained and executive components. Both high RTs means and high IIV subtend these deficits and could explain the often-complained cognitive fluctuations in this population.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-17463-x |
| spellingShingle | Paola Ortelli Francesco Benso Davide Ferrazzoli Ilaria Scarano Leopold Saltuari Luca Sebastianelli Viviana Versace Roberto Maestri Global slowness and increased intra-individual variability are key features of attentional deficits and cognitive fluctuations in post COVID-19 patients Scientific Reports |
| title | Global slowness and increased intra-individual variability are key features of attentional deficits and cognitive fluctuations in post COVID-19 patients |
| title_full | Global slowness and increased intra-individual variability are key features of attentional deficits and cognitive fluctuations in post COVID-19 patients |
| title_fullStr | Global slowness and increased intra-individual variability are key features of attentional deficits and cognitive fluctuations in post COVID-19 patients |
| title_full_unstemmed | Global slowness and increased intra-individual variability are key features of attentional deficits and cognitive fluctuations in post COVID-19 patients |
| title_short | Global slowness and increased intra-individual variability are key features of attentional deficits and cognitive fluctuations in post COVID-19 patients |
| title_sort | global slowness and increased intra individual variability are key features of attentional deficits and cognitive fluctuations in post covid 19 patients |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-17463-x |
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