Dynamics of Changes in the Level of Cognitive Functioning Among Patients After SARS-CoV-2 Infection ‒ A Proposal for Remote Neuropsychological Assessment in a Longitudinal Study

Ewa Malinowska

University of Warsaw, Faculty of Psychology
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0881-1401

Dominika Żarnecka

University of Warsaw, Faculty of Psychology
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4026-3900

Emilia Łojek

University of Warsaw, Faculty of Psychology
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0809-5601

NeuroCovid Research Team

based at the the Faculty of Psychology of the University of Warsaw


Abstrakt

Study purpose: The aim of this longitudinal study was to assess the cognitive functioning of people who had COVID-19, to determine the dynamics of changes observed in this area over a period of 3‒4 months, to compare the patients' results with those of a control group, and to verify the usefulness of a new method of remote neuropsychological assessment.

Method: A longitudinal study was conducted using the Brief Test of Adult Cognition by Telephone (BTACT) neuropsychological assessment tool, which was translated into Polish for the purpose of the study. The study included subjects following SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID(+) group) and control subjects (COVID(‒) group). Cognitive functions in both groups were assessed twice, 3‒4 months apart. The study was conducted from July 2020 to January 2022.

Results: Data comparisons were performed using mixed ANOVA with repeated measures. Compared to the COVID(‒) group, the COVID(+) group scored significantly lower on the first and second measurements of the Backward Digit Span Test and on the first measurement of the Number Series Test. Additionally, an improvement was observed in COVID(+) group scores in the second measurement compared to the first measurement in: Rey Auditory-Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT) in both the immediate and delayed recall condition; the Backward  Digit Span Test, the Number Series Test and 30 Seconds and Counting Task (30-SACT).

Conclusions: The obtained results show an impairment in working memory functions and inductive reasoning in COVID(+) subjects compared to COVID(‒) subjects. In addition, the study indicates the usefulness of BTACT in tracking the changes in cognitive functioning over time in individuals following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Tests to assess working memory (Rey Auditory-Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT), Backward Digit Span Test) and a test of inductive reasoning (Number Series Test) appear to be particularly useful in monitoring the mentioned changes.


Słowa kluczowe:

COVID-19, long-COVID, cognitive functions, neuropsychological assessment, remote testing methods


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2024-06-27

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Malinowska, E., Żarnecka, D., Łojek, E., & NeuroCovid Research Team. (2024). Dynamics of Changes in the Level of Cognitive Functioning Among Patients After SARS-CoV-2 Infection ‒ A Proposal for Remote Neuropsychological Assessment in a Longitudinal Study. Przegląd Psychologiczny, 67(1), 139–155. https://doi.org/10.31648/przegldpsychologiczny.10467

Ewa Malinowska 
University of Warsaw, Faculty of Psychology
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0881-1401
Dominika Żarnecka 
University of Warsaw, Faculty of Psychology
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4026-3900
Emilia Łojek 
University of Warsaw, Faculty of Psychology
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0809-5601
NeuroCovid Research Team 
based at the the Faculty of Psychology of the University of Warsaw