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Cited by 41Long-Term Effects of COVID-19Intensive Care Unit Cognitive DisordersCOVID-19 and Mental Health

Cognitive Assessment in SARS-CoV-2 Patients: A Systematic Review

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Biagianti, Bruno, Di Liberto, Asia, Nicolò Edoardo, Aiello, Lisi, Ilaria, Nobilia, Letizia, de Ferrabonc, Giulia Delor, Zanier, Elisa R., Stocchetti, Nino +1 more·2022·Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience
DOI 10.3389/fnagi.2022.909661PMC PMC9283975
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Abstract

Background: Patients with post-infective severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) often show both short- and long-term cognitive deficits within the dysexecutive/inattentive spectrum. However, little is known about which cognitive alterations are commonly found in patients recovered from SARS-CoV-2, and which psychometric tools clinicians should consider when assessing cognition in this population. The present work reviewed published studies to provide a critical narrative of neuropsychological (NPs) deficits commonly observed after SARS-CoV-2 infection and the tests most suited for detecting such cognitive sequelae depending on illness severity. Methods: This review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and was pre-registered on Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) (CRD42021253079). Observational studies quantitatively assessing cognition in patients with post-infective SARS-CoV-2 were considered. From 711 retrieved articles, 19 studies conducted on patients with SARS-CoV-2 without medical comorbidities were included and stratified by disease severity. Results: The majority of studies (N = 13) adopted first-level tests. The most frequently administered screeners were the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)—with the former more likely to detect mild, and the latter moderate/severe deficits. Among second-level tests, those assessing attention and executive functions (EFs) were highly represented. Remotely-delivered tests yielded lower percentages of cognitive impairment. Overall, cognitive domains often found to be impaired were EFs, attention, and memory. Conclusion: Cognitive sequelae in patients with post-infective SARS-CoV-2 can be detected with NPs testing. Depending on the psychometric test features, the likelihood of observing cognitive deficits can vary. Further studies on larger sample sizes are needed to investigate the clinical usefulness of second-level tools. The primary goal of preventative health services should be the early detection and intervention of emerging cognitive deficits.

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  • Long COVID complications are most seen in younger patients and those who had mild or asymptomatic cases.

    “Indeed, long COVID complications are most seen in younger patients and those who had mild or asymptomatic cases [85].”

    From What would it take to prove that a chronic infection is a causal agent in Alzheimer’s disease? (2025) · cites this paper as [85]

    The Conclusion (page unavailable) says possible cognitive consequences in younger, mild, or asymptomatic cases are emerging. It does not say long COVID complications are most common in those groups; it instead describes older people as having the greatest vulnerability to cognitive decline. The review also concerns cognitive outcomes, not all long COVID complications. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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Authors
Biagianti, B., Di Liberto, A., Nicolò Edoardo, A., Lisi, I., Nobilia, L., de Ferrabonc, G. D., Zanier, E. R., Stocchetti, N., & Brambilla, P.
Affiliations
  • University of Milan (IT)
  • Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research (IT)
  • University of Milano-Bicocca (IT)
Corresponding author
Biagianti, Bruno
ORCID
Venue
Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience
Publisher
Frontiers Media SA
Published
2022-07-01
Volume
14
Pages
909661-909661
ISSN
1663-4365 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.3389/fnagi.2022.909661
PMC
PMC9283975
OpenAlex
W4283760162
Cited by
41
References
10
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 15 · 2022: 5
FWCI
1.41
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Archivio Istituzionale della Ricerca (Universita Degli Studi Di Milano) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • BOA (University of Milano-Bicocca) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
Regione Lombardia
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Neurology › Long-Term Effects of COVID-19
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine › Intensive Care Unit Cognitive Disorders
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › COVID-19 and Mental Health
Keywords
SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 pandemic, neuropsychological assessment, executive function, attention, memory, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, Mini-Mental State Examination, remote cognitive testing, disease severity, cognitive screening tools

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