Memory loss associated with viral infection by SARS-CoV-2: Literature review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v11i4.27609Keywords:
Covid-19; Neuro-Covid; Memory loss.Abstract
The aim of this article is to review the literature about the neurological symptoms findings of SARS-CoV-2, mainly related to memory loss, to help in a better understanding of the disease and the possible pathophysiological aspects that give rise to it. Articles published from 2020 to 2021 were searched through the PubMed, CAPES, UpToDate and Scielo databases, using the keywords 'Covid-19', 'Memory', 'Brain Fog', 'Long-Hauler', ' SARS-CoV-2', 'Nervous System', 'Cognitive Deficit', 'Coronavirus', Memory-Loss', 'Alzheimer', 'Neuro-Covid', 'Neuro Invasion'. Among the reports of memory loss associated with COVID-19, the most common pathophysiology founded was indirect alteration through inflammatory mechanisms in the CNS, followed by direct alterations in the hippocampus and cortical regions. There was also a description of the “brain frog”, cognitive alterations, headache, sleep disorders, mood alterations, depression and anxiety. The described changes mainly affected long-term patients after the disease recovery process, but acute changes were also reported. The neurological findings of Covid-19 are similar to those founded in other diseases of viral etiology. There is also the possibility of aggravation of pre-existing clinical conditions such as Parkinsonism and Alzheimer's, in addition to comorbidities such as diabetes, hypertension and kidney disease, enabling the worsening of the patients clinical condition. We must also pay attention to the possibility that the initial neural manifestation of the disease is “brain-frog”. Thus, the correlation between memory loss and SARS-CoV-2 requires further studies and its really important for scientific research about neurological findings of the current pandemic.
References
CDC & FDA (2020). “Brain fog' following COVID-19 recovery may indicate PTSD.” Medical Letter on the CDC & FDA, 25 Oct. 2020, p. 1. Gale Academic OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A638720595/AONE?u=capes&sid=AONE&xid=51578ae4
‘Brain fog' following COVID-19 recovery may indicate PTSD." Medical Letter on the CDC & FDA, 25 Oct. 2020, p. 1. Gale Academic OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A638720595/AONE?u=capes&sid=AONE&xid=51578ae4.
Ciaccio, M., Lo Sasso, B., Scazzone, C., Gambino, C. M., Ciaccio, A. M., Bivona, G., & Agnello, L. (2021). COVID-19 and Alzheimer’s Disease. Brain Sciences, 11(3), 305.
Cordeiro, A. M., Oliveira, G. M. D., Rentería, J. M., & Guimarães, C. A. (2007). Revisão sistemática: uma revisão narrativa. Revista do Colégio Brasileiro de Cirurgiões, 34, 428-431.
Douaud, G., Lee, S., Alfaro-Almagro, F. et al. SARS-CoV-2 is associated with changes in brain structure in UK Biobank. (2022). Nature. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-022-04569-5
Elkind, M. S., Cucchiara, B. L., Koralnik, I. J., Rabinstein, A. A., & Kasner, S. E. (2021). COVID-19: Neurologic complications and management of neurologic conditions. UpToDate, abr.
Ermis, U., Rust, M. I., Bungenberg, J., Costa, A., Dreher, M., Balfanz, P., & Schulz, J. B. (2021). Neurological symptoms in COVID-19: a cross-sectional monocentric study of hospitalized patients. Neurological research and practice, 3(1), 1-12.
Ferrucci, R., Dini, M., Groppo, E., Rosci, C., Reitano, M. R., Bai, F., & D’Arminio Monforte, A. (2021). Long-Lasting Cognitive Abnormalities after COVID-19. Brain Sci. 2021, 11, 235.
Fotuhi, M., Mian, A., Meysami, S., & Raji, C. A. (2020). Neurobiology of COVID-19. Journal of Alzheimer's disease, 76(1), 3-19.
Garrigues, E., Janvier, P., Kherabi, Y., Le Bot, A., Hamon, A., Gouze, H., ... & Nguyen, Y. (2020). Post-discharge persistent symptoms and health-related quality of life after hospitalization for COVID-19. Journal of Infection, 81(6), e4-e6.
Graham, E. L., Clark, J. R., Orban, Z. S., Lim, P. H., Szymanski, A. L., Taylor, C., & Koralnik, I. J. (2021). Persistent neurologic symptoms and cognitive dysfunction in non‐hospitalized Covid‐19 “long haulers”. Annals of clinical and translational neurology, 8(5), 1073-1085.
Hellmuth, J., Barnett, T. A., Asken, B. M., Kelly, J. D., Torres, L., Stephens, M. L., & Peluso, M. J. (2021). Persistent COVID-19-associated neurocognitive symptoms in non-hospitalized patients. Journal of neurovirology, 27(1), 191-195.
Humphreys, H., Kilby, L., Kudiersky, N., & Copeland, R. (2021). Long COVID and the role of physical activity: a qualitative study. BMJ open, 11(3), e047632.
Jaywant, A., Vanderlind, W. M., Alexopoulos, G. S., Fridman, C. B., Perlis, R. H., & Gunning, F. M. (2021). Frequency and profile of objective cognitive deficits in hospitalized patients recovering from COVID-19. Neuropsychopharmacology, 46(13), 2235-2240.
Kingstone, T., Taylor, A. K., O'Donnell, C. A., Atherton, H., Blane, D. N., & Chew-Graham, C. A. (2020). Finding the'right'GP: a qualitative study of the experiences of people with long-COVID. BJGP open, 4(5).
Lauer, S. A., Grantz, K. H., Bi, Q., Jones, F. K., Zheng, Q., Meredith, H. R., & Lessler, J. (2020). The incubation period of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) from publicly reported confirmed cases: estimation and application. Annals of internal medicine, 172(9), 577-582.
Lu, Y., Li, X., Geng, D., Mei, N., Wu, P. Y., Huang, C. C., & Yin, B. (2020). Cerebral micro-structural changes in COVID-19 patients–an MRI-based 3-month follow-up study. EClinicalMedicine, 25, 100484.
Mariotto, S., Savoldi, A., Donadello, K., Zanzoni, S., Bozzetti, S., Carta, S., & Ferrari, S. (2020). Nervous system: subclinical target of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, 91(9), 1010-1012.
Marshall, M. (2020). How COVID-19 can damage the brain. Nature, 585(7825), 342-343.
Martins, H. H. T. (2004). Metodologia qualitativa de pesquisa. Educação e pesquisa, 30(2), 289-300.
MHWD (2021). "MSK researchers learn what's driving 'brain fog' in people with COVID-19." Mental Health Weekly Digest, 22 Feb. 2021, p. 59. Gale Academic OneFile.
Mikkelsen, M. E., Abramoff, B., Elmore, J. G., & Kunins, L. (2021). COVID-19: evaluation and management of adults following acute viral illness. UpToDate.
Mussa, B. M., Srivastava, A., & Verberne, A. J. (2021). COVID-19 and neurological impairment: hypothalamic circuits and beyond. Viruses, 13(3), 498.
Naughton, S. X., Raval, U., & Pasinetti, G. M. (2020). Potential novel role of COVID-19 in Alzheimer’s disease and preventative mitigation strategies. Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, 76(1), 21-25.
Novak, P. (2020). Post COVID-19 syndrome associated with orthostatic cerebral hypoperfusion syndrome, small fiber neuropathy and benefit of immunotherapy: a case report. Eneurologicalsci, 21, 100276.
Østergaard, L. (2021). SARS CoV‐2 related microvascular damage and symptoms during and after COVID‐19: Consequences of capillary transit‐time changes, tissue hypoxia and inflammation. Physiological reports, 9(3), e14726.
Pereira, A. S., Shitsuka, D. M., Parreira, F. J., & Shitsuka, R. (2018). Metodologia da pesquisa científica.
Piore, A. (2021). "COVID-19 Could Increase Dementia, Other Brain Disorders for Decades to Come; A rise in strange neurological symptoms such as psychosis, tremors, extreme fatigue, phantom smells, dizziness, and 'brain fog' suggest that COVID-19 attacks the brain. The long-term implications are worrisome." Newsweek, vol. 176, no. 6, 19 Feb. 2021, p. NA. Gale Academic OneFile.
Rabbitt, M. (2020). "Does Your Brain Feel Foggy? Being forgetful, unfocused, and mind-sluggish can be scary--but science shows that brain fog is super common, especially in these stressful times. Here's why, along with easy, research-backed ways to get back up to speed." Prevention, vol. 72, no. 12, Dec. 2020, p. 48+. Gale Academic OneFile.
Rahman, M. A., Islam, K., Rahman, S., & Alamin, M. (2021). Neurobiochemical cross-talk between COVID-19 and Alzheimer’s disease. Molecular Neurobiology, 58(3), 1017-1023.
Rebêlo, V. C. N., Lemos, M. P. R., da Silva, E. K. R., de Andrade Mesquita, L. S., Cabral, P. U. L., de Carvalho, A. F. M., & Arisawa, E. A. L. S. (2022). Síndrome pós Covid-19: estudo de caso. Research, Society and Development, 11(2), e43811225969-e43811225969.
Ritchie, K., Chan, D., & Watermeyer, T. (2020). The cognitive consequences of the COVID-19 epidemic: collateral damage? Brain communications, 2(2), fcaa069.
Satarker, S., & Nampoothiri, M. (2020). Involvement of the nervous system in COVID-19: The bell should toll in the brain. Life Sciences, 262, 118568.
Seabra, C. A. M., Xavier, S. P. L., Sampaio, Y. P. C. C., Oliveira, M. F. D., Quirino, G. D. S., & Machado, M. D. F. A. S. (2019). Educação em saúde como estratégia para promoção da saúde dos idosos: Uma revisão integrativa. Revista Brasileira de Geriatria e Gerontologia, 22.
Stein, M. B. (2021). COVID-19: Psychiatric illness. Available at.
Tancheva, L., Petralia, M. C., Miteva, S., Dragomanova, S., Solak, A., Kalfin, R., & Nicoletti, F. (2020). Emerging neurological and psychobiological aspects of COVID-19 infection. Brain sciences, 10(11), 852.
Tay, M. Z., Poh, C. M., Rénia, L., MacAry, P. A., & Ng, L. F. (2020). The trinity of COVID-19: immunity, inflammation and intervention. Nature Reviews Immunology, 20(6), 363-374.
Velasco, I. T. & Studart, A. (2021). Medicina de Emergência. Abordagem Prática. (15a ed.).
Wang, Q., Davis, P. B., Gurney, M. E., & Xu, R. (2021). COVID‐19 and dementia: Analyses of risk, disparity, and outcomes from electronic health records in the US. Alzheimer's & Dementia, 17(8), 1297-1306.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2022 Ingrid Nascimento Lima; Caroline Yumi Yamamoto; Jennefer de Sousa Luz; Thayná Cristine de Souza; Kleber Fernando Pereira
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
1) Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
2) Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
3) Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work.
