2024 | Eugenia Panagea, Lambros Messinis, Maria Christina Petri, Ioannis Liampas, Emmanouil Anyfantis, Grigorios Nasios, Panayiotis Patrikelis, Mary Kosmidis
A systematic review of 36 studies published between 2020 and 2023 found that long-COVID patients experience persistent cognitive impairments, particularly in executive function, memory, attention, and processing speed. Language impairment remains under-researched. The review highlights that cognitive deficits are common, affecting 18-35% of patients, and are linked to factors such as inflammation, sleep disturbances, and pre-existing conditions. Cognitive impairment significantly impacts quality of life and independence. Studies used various neuropsychological tests, including the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), to evaluate cognitive function, with results showing impaired performance in many patients. Memory, executive function, and attention were most commonly affected, while language and visuospatial functions showed more variability. The review emphasizes the need for early diagnosis and targeted rehabilitation to address these impairments. Despite variations in study methods and criteria, the findings consistently indicate that long-COVID is associated with significant cognitive challenges, underscoring the importance of further research and clinical interventions.A systematic review of 36 studies published between 2020 and 2023 found that long-COVID patients experience persistent cognitive impairments, particularly in executive function, memory, attention, and processing speed. Language impairment remains under-researched. The review highlights that cognitive deficits are common, affecting 18-35% of patients, and are linked to factors such as inflammation, sleep disturbances, and pre-existing conditions. Cognitive impairment significantly impacts quality of life and independence. Studies used various neuropsychological tests, including the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), to evaluate cognitive function, with results showing impaired performance in many patients. Memory, executive function, and attention were most commonly affected, while language and visuospatial functions showed more variability. The review emphasizes the need for early diagnosis and targeted rehabilitation to address these impairments. Despite variations in study methods and criteria, the findings consistently indicate that long-COVID is associated with significant cognitive challenges, underscoring the importance of further research and clinical interventions.