Impact of COVID‐19 infection on the cognition and emotion of Peruvians: analysis after 6‐12 months post‐infection

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundCOVID‐19 pandemic significantly impacted different systems and organs (cardiovascular, metabolic, immune, brain, and others). More than two years after the first wave of COVID‐19 in Peru, we still do not know the consequences on cognition and emotion, and nowadays, different studies suggest the impact of COVID‐19 might trigger mild cognitive impairment, dementia, and neuropsychiatric syndromes in the future.MethodsAn ex‐post facto study was carried out with two groups, considering a neurocognitive evaluation (general cognition, verbal fluency, attention, and executive function) and emotion (depression, anxiety, and stress) and performed between 6 and 18 months after the first confirmed diagnosis of COVID‐19 in Peruvians (by PCR or antigen test). The mean age was 37.03 ± 15.57 (age range between 17 and 86 years old), and 60.5% were Female. We use the following instruments: INECO Frontal screening, Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination‐Revisado (ACE‐R), Verbal Fluency, TMT A/B, and DASS‐21.ResultsNo specific differences in general cognition were found. However, we found an effect in the INECO Frontal Screening (IFS) and the DASS‐21 (Anxiety scale). Patients diagnosed with COVID‐19 by PCR or antigen test have a slightly reduced frontal function (executive function).ConclusionsCOVID‐19 impacted high hierarchical frontal functions, but these effects are not well identified with general cognitive testing. Similarly, an increase in anxiety was found. More specific evaluation and sensitive techniques are needed to elucidate future COVID‐19 consequences on brain function.