Molecular imaging uncovers effects of COVID-19 on the brain

Date:
March 16, 2022
Source:
Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
Summary:
A significant number of COVID-19 neurological complications --
such as fatigue, headache, and cognitive impairment--are ultimately
reversible, according to new research. The comprehensive literature
review of molecular imaging findings sheds light on how COVID-19
affects the brain and identifies important implications for other
neurological conditions, like Parkinson's disease or Alzheimer's
disease.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
A significant number of COVID-19 neurological complications -- such
as fatigue, headache, and cognitive impairment -- are ultimately
reversible, according to new research summarized by The Journal of
Nuclear Medicine. The comprehensive literature review of molecular
imaging findings sheds light on how COVID-19 affects the brain and
identifies important implications for other neurological conditions,
like Parkinson's disease or Alzheimer's disease.


========================================================================== Neurological symptoms are present in roughly two-thirds of hospitalized
COVID- 19 patients. Symptoms include fatigue, loss of smell, attention
problems and memory loss. Patients who have more severe COVID-19 cases,
are older, or have pre-existing conditions are more likely to experience
these neurological issues.

Molecular imaging with PET or SPECT has been used to determine
how COVID-19 affects the brain; however, these scans often show
conflicting results. To make sense of the data, researchers conducted
a comprehensive, systematic and critical review of molecular imaging
studies in neuropsychiatric COVID-19 cases.

Their report was structured according to neurological symptoms and how
they developed over time. The five symptoms included in the report were encephalitis, Parkinsonism and other neurodegenerative diseases, focal symptoms/lesions, encephalopathy, and post-COVID-19 syndrome. This
helped the researchers to understand potential underlying (and most
likely diverse) causes of the symptoms and to unravel discrepancies in
the PET and SPECT literature.

"The presented studies are of high importance for patients struggling
with neurological or cognitive aftermaths of COVID-19," said Philipp
T. Meyer, MD, PhD, head of the Department of Nuclear Medicine of the
Medical Center- University of Freiburg, in Freiburg, Germany. "To
the best of our knowledge there are no convincing studies clearly
demonstrating relevant and irreversible brain damage, except for
disease complications like brain infarcts and bleedings. Thus, from
our perspective, in the vast majority of cases there is no reason to
assume that reported impairments will be permanent and not responsive
to treatment." What are the implications of this research for the
future of molecular imaging of COVID-19 neurological symptoms? First,
there is a clear need for further well-designed studies. "These need to
be prospective, recruit larger patient cohorts, follow accepted syndrome
or stage definitions, and use proper methodology," noted Jonas A. Hosp,
MD, attending physician of the Department of Neurology and Clinical Neuroscience of the Medical Center-University of Freiburg, in Freiburg, Germany. "Carefully designed studies of COVID-19 populations will be of
great interest moving forward." Second, there are several potential
clinical applications of molecular imaging in COVID-19 patients with
cognitive or neurological impairment. "It may be the case that COVID-19 unmasked or hastened a pre-existing neurodegenerative disease like
Parkinson's or Alzheimer's," said Meyer. "Molecular imaging could be
used to identify these patients." This study was made available online
in February 2022.

The authors of "Molecular imaging findings on acute and long-term
effects of COVID-19 on the brain: A systematic review" include Philipp
T. Meyer and Ganna Blazhenets, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany; Sabine Hellwig,
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany; and Jonas A. Hosp, Department of Neurology
and Clinical Neuroscience, Medical Center-University of Freiburg,
Freiburg, Germany.


========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by Society_of_Nuclear_Medicine_and_Molecular_Imaging. Note: Content may be
edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Philipp T Meyer, Sabine Hellwig, Ganna Blazhenets, Jonas A Hosp.

Molecular imaging findings on acute and long-term effects of
COVID-19 on the brain: A systematic review. Journal of Nuclear
Medicine, 2022; jnumed.121.263085 DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.121.263085 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/03/220316120841.htm

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