Effect of Post-COVID-19 on Brain Volume and Glucose Metabolism: Influence of Time Since Infection and Fatigue Status
Post-COVID-19 syndrome (PCS) fatigue is typically most severe <6 months post-infection. Combining magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) imaging with the glucose analog [<sup>18</sup>F]-Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) provides a comprehensive overview of the...
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MDPI AG
2023-04-01
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Series: | Brain Sciences |
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Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/13/4/675 |
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author | Justin R. Deters Alexandra C. Fietsam Phillip E. Gander Laura L. Boles Ponto Thorsten Rudroff |
author_facet | Justin R. Deters Alexandra C. Fietsam Phillip E. Gander Laura L. Boles Ponto Thorsten Rudroff |
author_sort | Justin R. Deters |
collection | DOAJ |
description | Post-COVID-19 syndrome (PCS) fatigue is typically most severe <6 months post-infection. Combining magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) imaging with the glucose analog [<sup>18</sup>F]-Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) provides a comprehensive overview of the effects of PCS on regional brain volumes and metabolism, respectively. The primary purpose of this exploratory study was to investigate differences in MRI/PET outcomes between people < 6 months (N = 18, 11 female) and > 6 months (N = 15, 6 female) after COVID-19. The secondary purpose was to assess if any differences in MRI/PET outcomes were associated with fatigue symptoms. Subjects > 6 months showed smaller volumes in the putamen, pallidum, and thalamus compared to subjects < 6 months. In subjects > 6 months, fatigued subjects had smaller volumes in frontal areas compared to non-fatigued subjects. Moreover, worse fatigue was associated with smaller volumes in several frontal areas in subjects > 6 months. The results revealed no brain metabolism differences between subjects > 6 and < 6 months. However, both groups exhibited both regional hypo- and hypermetabolism compared to a normative database. These results suggest that PCS may alter regional brain volumes but not metabolism in people > 6 months, particularly those experiencing fatigue symptoms. |
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format | Article |
id | doaj.art-7144994a77894567a10551448467dd40 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 2076-3425 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-03-11T05:11:05Z |
publishDate | 2023-04-01 |
publisher | MDPI AG |
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series | Brain Sciences |
spelling | doaj.art-7144994a77894567a10551448467dd402023-11-17T18:33:30ZengMDPI AGBrain Sciences2076-34252023-04-0113467510.3390/brainsci13040675Effect of Post-COVID-19 on Brain Volume and Glucose Metabolism: Influence of Time Since Infection and Fatigue StatusJustin R. Deters0Alexandra C. Fietsam1Phillip E. Gander2Laura L. Boles Ponto3Thorsten Rudroff4Department of Health and Human Physiology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USADepartment of Health and Human Physiology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USADepartment of Radiology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA 52242, USADepartment of Radiology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA 52242, USADepartment of Health and Human Physiology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USAPost-COVID-19 syndrome (PCS) fatigue is typically most severe <6 months post-infection. Combining magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) imaging with the glucose analog [<sup>18</sup>F]-Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) provides a comprehensive overview of the effects of PCS on regional brain volumes and metabolism, respectively. The primary purpose of this exploratory study was to investigate differences in MRI/PET outcomes between people < 6 months (N = 18, 11 female) and > 6 months (N = 15, 6 female) after COVID-19. The secondary purpose was to assess if any differences in MRI/PET outcomes were associated with fatigue symptoms. Subjects > 6 months showed smaller volumes in the putamen, pallidum, and thalamus compared to subjects < 6 months. In subjects > 6 months, fatigued subjects had smaller volumes in frontal areas compared to non-fatigued subjects. Moreover, worse fatigue was associated with smaller volumes in several frontal areas in subjects > 6 months. The results revealed no brain metabolism differences between subjects > 6 and < 6 months. However, both groups exhibited both regional hypo- and hypermetabolism compared to a normative database. These results suggest that PCS may alter regional brain volumes but not metabolism in people > 6 months, particularly those experiencing fatigue symptoms.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/13/4/675post-COVID-19FDG-PETbrain volumefatigueneuroimaging in post-COVID-19 |
spellingShingle | Justin R. Deters Alexandra C. Fietsam Phillip E. Gander Laura L. Boles Ponto Thorsten Rudroff Effect of Post-COVID-19 on Brain Volume and Glucose Metabolism: Influence of Time Since Infection and Fatigue Status Brain Sciences post-COVID-19 FDG-PET brain volume fatigue neuroimaging in post-COVID-19 |
title | Effect of Post-COVID-19 on Brain Volume and Glucose Metabolism: Influence of Time Since Infection and Fatigue Status |
title_full | Effect of Post-COVID-19 on Brain Volume and Glucose Metabolism: Influence of Time Since Infection and Fatigue Status |
title_fullStr | Effect of Post-COVID-19 on Brain Volume and Glucose Metabolism: Influence of Time Since Infection and Fatigue Status |
title_full_unstemmed | Effect of Post-COVID-19 on Brain Volume and Glucose Metabolism: Influence of Time Since Infection and Fatigue Status |
title_short | Effect of Post-COVID-19 on Brain Volume and Glucose Metabolism: Influence of Time Since Infection and Fatigue Status |
title_sort | effect of post covid 19 on brain volume and glucose metabolism influence of time since infection and fatigue status |
topic | post-COVID-19 FDG-PET brain volume fatigue neuroimaging in post-COVID-19 |
url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/13/4/675 |
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