The ACDC Study Assessing Cognitive Deterioration in COVID-19

The long-term impact and effects of COVID-19 are still being determined. However, what is clear, is that some people are still struggling following a period of illness with COVID-19. Now known as 'long covid' or 'post covid-19 syndrome', people are not only experiencing physical symptoms like fatigue and breathlessness, but also psychological difficulties, as well as cognitive changes often referred to as 'brain fog'. This can include symptoms, such as changes in memory, difficulties with organisation and problem solving, as well as the ability to concentrate. Evidence from other research areas suggest that these changes could be due to shrinkage in areas of the brain that control functions like memory and concentration. There are also connections between different brain areas that work together to perform tasks such as remembering and concentrating, and these areas may also be affected by COVID-19. The purpose of this study is to scan the brains of patients reporting cognitive changes having been hospitalised with COVID-19 infection to see if any of these areas or connections have changed after infection and whether this might explain these cognitive changes.

PARTICIPANTS: Inclusion Criteria * A patient who has been hospitalised with COVID-19 disease (with a positive Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) result for SARS-CoV2 infection) within NHS Grampian hospitals with subsequent subjective reporting and objective evidence of cognitive change. * Patients aged over 18. * Patient has completed neuropsychometric testing protocol as described above. * Participant who is willing and able to give informed consent for participation in the study. Exclusion Criteria * Any patient whose physical condition will preclude them from lying still for the duration of the brain scan. * Contraindication to magnetic resonance scanning such as an implantable cardiac device. * Patients who required intensive care treatment for SARS-CoV2 infection. * Patients with a pre-existing diagnosis of a Neurodegenerative disease (eg. Dementia), Intellectual Disability, previous moderate/severe brain injury or previous brain injury with noted cognitive change. * Patients with a pre-existing neuro-inflammatory disorder (eg. Multiple Sclerosis). * Patients under investigation for, or with a history of, cognitive change prior to hospitalisation with COVID-19 disease. * Patients with a dependency on alcohol or recreational drugs.