Post-COVID cognitive impairments: targets of neuropsychological rehabilitation

Abstract

BACKGROUND: At the moment, a large number of scientific studies are devoted to the topic of post-COVID cognitive disorders, as well as to the study of the neurological and psychiatric consequences of COVID-19. However, the issues of describing the cognitive profile that is pathognomonic for a post-COVID patient, as well as the treatment and neurocorrection of emerging disorders are considered extremely rarely. AIM: The aim of this study is to compile a cognitive profile of a post-COVID patient and identify targets for neuropsychological rehabilitation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A complete neuropsychological examination was carried out on 50 patients who had suffered moderate or mild COVID-19 no more than six months ago from the time of research. Used: MoCA test, clock drawing test, verbal association technique, FAB, G. Head test, test for understanding comparative constructions, “barrel and box” test, symbol-numeric coding test, asthenia rating scale (MFI-20), Hospital scale anxiety and depression. RESULTS: According to the results of screening scales, patients scored borderline between normal and mild (subjective) cognitive decline. No impairments in operational auditory-verbal and visual memory were detected. Low performance in the symbolic-numeric coding technique was revealed, combined with a deterioration in the understanding of logical-grammatical structures. These same scales have a direct correlation with the general level of cognitive integrity. High rates of anxiety and asthenia and low rates of depression were revealed. CONCLUSIONS: This cohort of patients was found to have mild cognitive deficits. A decrease in neurodynamic parameters and a violation of quasi-spatial concepts come to the fore. There are high rates of anxiety and asthenia with the leading mental component of asthenia, against the background of preserved motivation and low rates of depression. The targets of neurocorrection for these patients are: stability of attention, fluency of speech, speed of thinking, quasi-spatial concepts.