| Computer # |
| 2074.
 | 49 | Structural and Oxygen Metabolic Magnetic Resonance Imaging of long-COVID and ME/CFS Xiang Xu1, Puneet Belani2, Dengrong Jiang3, Rodophe Leforestier1, Hanzhang Lu3, and Benjamin Natelson4
1BioMedical Engineering and Imaging Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States, 2Department of Radiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States, 3Department of Radiology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States, 4Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States Keywords: Infectious Disease, Metabolism Motivation: Many long-COVID patients experience fatigue and post exertional malaise which are primary symptoms of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS). Understanding the similarities and differences between long-COVID and classic ME/CFS could provide insights into the disease mechanisms. Goal(s): To measure brain anatomy and oxygen metabolism between the two groups. Approach: Clinical standard and advanced MRI techniques measuring the venous oxygenation were applied. The fatigue level was assessed by questionnaires. Results: No differences in brain anatomy were observed between the groups, but the long-COVID group had significant lower venous oxygenation than the healthy control group and the classic CFS group. Impact: Many long-COVID patients fulfill diagnostic criteria for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS). Compared to structural changes, metabolism-related parameters, such as venous oxygenation of the brain, may be more sensitive to changes related to long-COVID and CFS disease mechanisms. |
| 2075.
 | 50 | White matter alterations in brain fog: A Long-Covid study Nicolò Rolandi1,2,3, Antonio Ricciardi2, Elena Grosso3, Madiha Shatila2, Marios C. Yiannakas2, Ferran Prados2,4,5, Baris Kanber2,4, Jed Wingrove2, Francesco Grussu2,6, Marco Battiston2, Rebecca S. Samson2, Carmen Tur7, Fulvia Palesi3,8, Egidio D'Angelo3,8, and Claudia A. M. Gandini Wheeler-Kingshott2,3,8
1Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, United Kingdom, 2NMR Research Unit, Queen Square MS Centre, Department of Neuroinflammation, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, United Kingdom, 3Department of Brain & Behavioural Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy, 4Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Centre for Medical Image Computing (CMIC), University College London, London, United Kingdom, 5E-Health Center, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain, 6Radiomics Group, Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology, Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Barcelona, Spain, 7Neurology-Neuroimmunology Department Multiple Sclerosis Centre of Catalonia (Cemcat), Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Barcelona, Spain, 8Digital Neuroscience Center, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy Keywords: Neuroinflammation, COVID-19 Motivation: The symptoms of brain fog include problems with concentration, memory, attention, which result in difficulties with communication. This can make it extremely difficult for an individual to carry out daily tasks and responsibilities as well as maintain relationships deteriorating their quality of life. Goal(s): To investigate white matter alteration in Long-COVID. Approach: Voxel-wise analysis of core white matter voxels using advanced MRI metrics and neuropsychological scores. Results: Results highlight promising perspective for further investigations and potential clinical interpretation of Long-COVID syndromes Impact: The addition of MRI enables a more thorough exploration of the diverse cognitive dimensions affected in individuals experiencing brain fog and perhaps the possibility to understanding the involvement of WM alterations as either a risk factor or consequence of Long-COVID. |
| 2076.
 | 51 | Dysfunction of glymphatic system in recovered COVID-19 patients: A diffusion tensor image analysis along the perivascular space (DTI-ALPS) Lin Wu1,2,3, Zhi Zhang1,2,3, Jiankun Dai4, Meng Li5,6, and Fuqing Zhou1,2,3
1Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China, 2Jiangxi Province Medical Imaging Research Institute, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China, 3Clinical Research Center For Medical Imaging, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China, 4MR Research, GE Healthcare, Beijing, China, 5Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany., Jena, Germany, 6Center for Intervention and Research on adaptive and maladaptive brain Circuits underlying mental health (C-I-R-C), Jena-Magdeburg-Halle, Germany., Jena-Magdeburg-Halle, Germany Keywords: Infectious Disease, COVID-19, Glymphatic system;DTI-ALPS Motivation: Central nervous related sequelae are often reported in recovered COVID-19 patients. It’s unclear whether recovered patients have glymphatic impairment and clinical correlation. Goal(s): Assessing glymphatic function in recovered patients and the clinical correlation. Approach: 61 recovered patients and 38 healthy controls were enrolled. Glymphatic function was assessed using DTI-ALPS and compared between recovered and HC subjects. Results: The impairment of glymphatic function was observed in recovered patients and was more obvious in older patients. It was correlated with sleep quality and anxiety status in a subgroup of recovered patients. Impact: Our study firstly provided evidence of glymphatic function impairment in recovered COVID-19 patients. |
| 2077.
 | 52 | Neurochemical Alterations Caused by Persistent COVID-19-Induced Anosmia: Probing Orbitofrontal Cortex Metabolites and Potential Biomarker Shadman Nemati1, Abbas Monsef2, Mohammad Haghani Dogahe1, Sahand Karimzad1, and Elahe Abbaspour1
1Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran (Islamic Republic of), 2Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, United States Keywords: Infectious Disease, COVID-19, Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy, Anosmia, Orbitofrontal Cortex Motivation: Olfactory impairments caused by COVID-19 have been addressed in neuroimaging findings over the past years. However, long-term complications on brain orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) needs to be further investigated. Goal(s): Our goal was to assess metabolites level change in the brain OFC region in COVID-induced anosmia subjects in comparison to healthy population. Approach: 54 subjects categorized into control, short- and long-term anosmia groups were studied using single voxel MRS. Metabolite level alterations of their brain OFC region were investigated. Results: We found that NAA, Cho, and Cr levels in brain OFC region decreased as COVID-induced anosmia duration and severity increased. Impact: The demonstrated results of alteration in brain metabolites level influenced by the severity of COVID-induced anosmia highlights MRS as a robust assessment tool for physicians to better investigate olfactory function impairment in the brain orbitofrontal cortex. |
| 2078.
 | 53 | Longitudinal neuroimaging combined with multi-omics reveals cerebral structural and functional changes in COVID-19 Yuerong Lizhu1, Jun Sun2, and Yu-Xin YANG3
1radiology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing, China, 2Beijing TianTan Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing, China, 3United Imaging Research Institute of Intelligent Imaging, Beijing, China Keywords: Infectious Disease, COVID-19 Motivation: COVID-19's neurological effects remain ambiguous, with limited exploration of neuroimaging changes versus clinical symptoms, especially through pre-SARS-CoV-2 exposure longitudinal imaging, remains less explored. Goal(s): Understand brain change patterns and identify therapeutic targets for post-COVID-19 brain injury and neuropsychiatric effects. Approach: Utilized consistent neuroimaging on patients in acute recovery across two centers. Employed multiple clinical tools to gauge neuropsychiatric manifestations. Blood samples analyzed for protein profiles indicative of inflammation and neural damage. Results: Found significant vulnerability in the limbic lobe, observed contrasting pathological changes in symmetrical brain regions, and highlighted potential genetic and neurotrophic factors influencing neuropsychiatric symptoms post-COVID-19. Impact: This study offers clinicians a clearer path to target COVID-19-related
neuropsychiatric symptoms. It prompts further inquiry into genetic influences
on brain alterations, enabling tailored therapeutic strategies for affected
patients. |
| 2079.
 | 54 | Altered Volumes of the Limbic Structures in COVID-19 Patients with neuroPASC revealed by Ultrahigh Field 7T MRI Shams Rashid1,2, Sera Saju1, Oleksandr Khegai1, Nathalie Jette3, Puneet Belani1, Puneet Pawha1, Claudia Kirsch1, Alan Seifert1,2, Yijuan Zhu1, Jacqueline Becker4, Bradley Delman1, and Priti Balchandani1,2
1Diagnostic, Molecular and Interventional Radiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States, 2BioMedical Engineering and Imaging Institute (BMEII), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States, 3Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States, 4General Internal Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States Keywords: Infectious Disease, COVID-19 Motivation: Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 of neurological origin (neuroPASC), such as brain fog and anxiety, are not well understood. Goal(s): To study volumetric changes in the brain’s limbic structures in COVID-19 patients with neuroPASC such as brain fog. Approach: 29 COVID-19 patients with neuroPASC and 29 matched controls underwent ultrahigh field brain MRI at 7T. Hippocampal subfields and amygdala subnuclei were segmented with FreeSurfer and studied across neuroPASC subgroups. Results: Several subunit volumes were significantly decreased in COVID patients compared to controls across neuroPASC subgroups. Sex-based differences were also present. Impact: There may be subtle changes in the volumes of the brain’s limbic structures in COVID patients with neuroPASC compared to controls. These changes may be related to neuroPASC symptoms and may depend on sex differences. |
| 2080.
 | 55 | Subtle Brain Structure Alternations in Young Adult Patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron and Mild Symptom: A Case Control Study Using MRI Jiachen Liu1, Rui Shen1, Shuwan Yu1, Ning Xu1, Chenyang Zhao2, Huiyu Qiao1, Zihan Ning1, Hualu Han1, and Xihai Zhao1
1Center for Biomedical Imaging Research, Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China, 2Department of Radiology, the Affiliated BenQ Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China Keywords: Infectious Disease, COVID-19, brain changes, Omicron, young adults, mild symptom, SARS-CoV-2 Motivation: The existence of brain structural abnormalities in young adults with mild Omicron infections remains unclear. Goal(s): This study aimed to investigate short-term brain structure changes in this specific patient group. Approach: Young adult patients and age- and sex-matched controls were enrolled, and brain structures were assessed on T1-MPRAGE images. One-way ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis tests, and logistic regression were employed to determine differences among groups. Results: While whole brain volume didn't significantly differ among groups, subtle alterations in various regions within cerebral cortex, white matter, and cerebrospinal fluid were observed during the acute phase, with a tendency of recovery over time. Impact: Short-term structural changes in brain were observed in this study. The findings suggest cerebral impairments at the early stage of infection with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron even in individuals with mild symptoms. |
| 2081.
 | 56 | Independent Component Analysis in Long Covid during cognitive exertion reveals widespread deficits in BOLD activity Leighton Barnden1, James Baraniuk2, Kiran Thapaliya1, Natalie Eaton-Fitch1, Maira Inderyas1, and Sonya Marshal-Gradisnik1
1NCNED, Griffith University, Southport, Australia, 2Medicine, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, United States Keywords: Infectious Disease, COVID-19, Independent Component Analysis Motivation: To understand the cognitive deficits of Long Covid (LCov).
Goal(s): What are the brain locations with different BOLD activity in LCov? Approach: Two consecutive fMRI were acquired in 19 LCov and 16 healthy controls (HC) with a 7 Tesla scanner during the cognitive color-word Stroop task. Run2 was affected by fatigue induced by Run1. BOLD time series were processed with the CONN toolbox and submitted to independent component analysis (group ICA). Results: ICA detected widespread deficits in LCov activity and sensorimotor excesses. The extent of LCov activity differences supports the hypothesis that global Covid19 infection affects brain-wide BOLD activity and regulatory function. Impact: Our discovery of brain-wide changes in Long Covid BOLD activity supports the mechanism of brain-wide Covid-19 infection inducing cognitive deficits. Research should be directed to therapies that eliminate cerebral infection and facilitate and monitor recovery from virus inflicted damage. |
| 2082.
 | 57 | Post-COVID Fatigue Relates to Bioenergetic Dysfunctions in the Posterior Cingulate Gyrus Hye Bin Yoo1, Hyeong Hun Lee2, Serene Huang3, and Jeong Hoon Lim3,4
1Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea, Republic of, 2METLiT Inc., Seoul, Korea, Republic of, 3Division of Rehabilitation Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore, 4Department of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore Keywords: Infectious Disease, Brain, COVID-19, Biomarkers, Fatigue, Spectroscopy Motivation: Persistent fatigue after recovery from SARS-CoV-2 shows pathologies comparable to chronic fatigue syndrome or myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME). It is unknown if disruptions in mitochondrial functions caused by SARS-CoV-2 persists in post COVID fatigue as dysregulated mitochondrial homeostasis. Goal(s): We aim to investigate if post-COVID fatigue relates to perturbations of mitochondrial function in the brain representing signs of neuroinflammation, redox imbalance, and neuronal dysfunctions. Approach: Proton MR spectroscopy was performed on post-COVID fatigue patients targeting at posterior cingulate gyrus (PCG), one of the most metabolically active regions. Results: We found reduced level of antioxidants and neuronal activity in post-COVID fatigue patients. Impact: Proton MR spectroscopy
in PCG of post-COVID fatigue patients shows signs of redox imbalance and reduced
neuronal activity, suggesting of long-term dysregulations in mitochondrial homeostasis persisting after SARS-CoV-2
infection. SARS-CoV-2 infection may lead to further neurodegenerations
post-recovery. |
| 2083.
 | 58 | Brain long distance functional connectivity mediates the relationship between fatigue and PTSD after COVID-19 infection. Zhaoyao Luo1, Huijie Yuan1, Wenrui Bao1, Xuan Niu1, Junya Mu1, Haining Li1, Tao Lu1, Shaohui Ma1, Xiaocheng Wei2, and Ming Zhang1
1Department of Medical Imaging, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi'an City, China, 2GE HealthCare MR Research, Beijing City, China Keywords: Infectious Disease, COVID-19 Motivation: Brain network alterations in acute phase of coronavirus disease 2019 patients (acute-COVID) with fatigue has not yet been elucidated. Goal(s): Our goal was to determine the characteristics of alterations in brain network and the neurobiological mechanisms in acute-COVID patients with fatigue. Approach: We utilized graph theory analysis to assess brain network alterations in COVID-19 patients. Results: Results demonstrated the abnormalities in brain network in acute-COVID patients with fatigue, involing left insular gyrus and right inferior frontal gyrus. Morever, the normalized characteristic path length of global brain in acute phase of COVID-19 could predict the development of chronic symptoms. Impact: Our functional MRI findings highlight abnormal brain network metrics in acute phase COVID-19 patients with fatigue, offering valuable neuroimaging marker for early clinical intervention in long-COVID patients. |
| 2084.
 | 59 | Neurochemistry, microstructure, and perfusion in long-COVID: An interim analysis from a multisite study Ana I Silva1, James M Joers1, Katherine Gundry1, Alfredo Lorente1, Jeromy Thotland1, Dinesh K Deelchand1, Young W Park1, Xiufeng Li1, Georgios E Manousakis2, Abby I Metzler2, Christophe Lenglet1, Lynn Eberly1,3, June C Kendall4, Michel Toledano4, Orhun H Kantarci4, Merve Atik4, Matthew L Senjem4, Burcu Zeydan4, Keenan C Byrne5, Meher R Juttukonda5,6, David H Salat5, Janet C Sherman5, Lauren Pollak5, Shibani Mukerji5, G Kyle Harrold5, Sevil Yasar7, Mehreen Nabi7, Sana Rehman7, Christof Karmonik8, Syed A Gillani8, Valerie Flores8, Rachel Davis8, Tetsuo Ashizawa8, Peter B Barker7, Eva M Ratai5, Kejal Kantarci4, and Gülin Öz1
1Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, Department of Radiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States, 2Department of Neurology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States, 3School of Public Health, Division of Biostatistics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States, 4Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States, 5Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States, 6Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States, 7Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States, 8The Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, United States Keywords: Infectious Disease, COVID-19, Arterial Spin labelling, Brain, Brain Connectivity, Diffusion Tensor Imaging, Microstructure, Multimodal, Spectroscopy, Perfusion Motivation: There is an urgent need to understand the biological basis of long-COVID. Goal(s): To elucidate long-term consequences of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the brain using advanced MRI. Approach: In a multisite study, we collected single-voxel MRS, diffusion MRI, pCASL and T2 FLAIR MRI, to investigate the neurochemistry, microstructure, perfusion, and white matter hyperintensities (WMH) in participants suffering from long-COVID. Results: Participants with long-COVID have long-lasting effects (that persist years after acute infection) in the neurochemistry, microstructure, and perfusion, primarily in the brainstem, midbrain and diencephalon, and their connecting tracts, without the presence of overt white matter pathology. Impact: Multi-modal
advanced MRI demonstrates long-lasting effects of COVID-19 in the brain,
including neurochemical and microstructural abnormalities and perfusion
deficits. These insights may facilitate the treatment and care of people
suffering from long-COVID. |
| 2085.
 | 60 | Insights into Neurological Long COVID Syndrome with Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping in Basal Ganglia Jia Ying1,2, Chuan Huang1,2,3, Zennur Sekendiz4, Ashley Fontana 4, Sean Clouston5, Minos Kritikos5, and Benjamin Luft6
1Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States, 2Biomedical Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States, 3Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, United States, 4Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States, 5Family, Population, and Preventive Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States, 6World Trade Center Health and Wellness Program, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States Keywords: Infectious Disease, Quantitative Susceptibility mapping, PASC, COVID-19 Motivation: The etiology of persistent and enigmatic neurological symptoms in post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) remains unclear. Goal(s): To utilize quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) to compare iron levels in the basal ganglia of individuals with neurological symptoms of PASC, recovered COVID-19 patients, and uninfected controls, thereby identifying potential biomarkers for the condition. Approach: QSM imaging was performed on three distinct cohorts: PASC, post-COVID non-PASC, and uninfected subjects Results: Elevated QSM values, indicative of iron accumulation, in the putamen and caudate nucleus were observed in PASC patients. Impact: The study aims to offer a novel imaging perspective on PASC, potentially leading to a better understanding of its neurological aspects and aiding in the development of targeted therapies for affected patients. |
| 2086.
 | 61 | The long-term cerebral change of patient transformed from mildly into severely emotional problem after multiple COVID-19 infections: 3-6 months Yuanyuan Cui1, Yunmeng Wang1, Youhan Zhang1, Shuwen Dong1, Qingyang Yu1, Yi Xiao2, and Shiyuan Liu2
1Radiology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China, 2Second Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China Keywords: Infectious Disease, COVID-19 Motivation: It was unclear that if the brain function would be changed after multiple COVID-19 infections when the psychological burden incremented. Goal(s): To evaluate the long-term brain brain change of the patients who transformed from mildly emotional problem after the first COVID-19 infection into severely one after multiple infections. Approach: The patients with mildly emotional abnormality after once infection (control group) and others transformed from mild into severe abnormality after multiple COVID infections (patients group) were included. The parameters derived from BOLD and DTI were compared after 3-6 months. Results: The patients group had a decreased FA and increased ALFF in some brain areas. Impact: The abnormalities in
these brain areas could help clinicians to understand the potential machine of
the transformation of mild emotion problem into severe emotion problem after
another COVID infection. |
| 2087.
 | 62 | Neuroinflammatory Imaging Markers: Insights into the Cerebral Consequences of Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) Chuan Huang1,2, Jia Ying1,3, Zennur Sekendiz4, Ashley Fontana4, Sean Clouston5, Minos Kritikos5, Lev Bangiyev6, and Benjamin Luft7
1Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States, 2Biomedical Engineering, Emory and Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, United States, 3Biomedical Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States, 4Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States, 5Family, Population, and Preventive Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States, 6Radiology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States, 7World Trade Center Health and Wellness Program, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States Keywords: Infectious Disease, Diffusion/other diffusion imaging techniques Motivation: The motivation behind this study stems from the urgent need to decipher the neuroinflammatory processes contributing to Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) and to identify potential biomarkers for this condition through neuroimaging. Goal(s): The primary goal is to investigate the presence of cerebral imaging markers indicative of neuroinflammation in individuals experiencing neurological PASC. Approach: The study employed multi-shell diffusion MRI, to investigate changes in individuals with PASC. Diffusion parameters indicative of neuroinflammation were analyzed, by comparing among PASC patients, never-infected individuals, and acute-COVID controls. Results: PASC patients demonstrated increased whole-brain alterations consistent with axonal injury with inflammation. Impact: The findings of altered diffusion parameters in PASC patients shed light on the presence of axonal injuries with inflammation. These insights can potentially impact the diagnosing and treating long-term neurological symptoms of COVID-19, ultimately improving patient care and recovery strategies. |
| 2088.
 | 63 | Graph theory demonstrates lower nodal efficiency and transitivity in the Default Mode Network 6-12 months after admission for COVID-19 pneumonia Joanah Shamiso Madzime1,2, Jacqueline Hoare 2,3, Betty Kadenge3, Sarah Heany3, and Ernesta Meintjes1,2,4
1Biomedical Engineering Research Centre, Division of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa, 2Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa, 3Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa, 4Cape Universities Body Imaging Centre, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa Keywords: Functional Connectivity, COVID-19 Motivation: Neural functional networks provide insights into the intrinsic function and integrity of brain areas. Goal(s): The aim of the current study was to investigate the levels of functional integration and segregation of brain areas within the default mode network (DMN) in a cohort of adults 6-12 months after admission for SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia. Approach: We used a functional atlas and graph-theoretical framework to model the topology of brain areas within the DMN.
Results: We found reduced functional integration within the DMN of adults previously admitted with SARS-CoV-2. Affected brain areas are involved in higher-cognitive memory processing functions. Impact: Investigating
the brain’s functional organization in the context of post-acute infection with
SARS-CoV-2 can
offer a window into the neuropathology of long COVID-19 symptoms. |
| 2089.
 | 64 | 3D-QALAS in COVID: a whole brain voxel-based investigation of relaxometry Maarten Naeyaert1, Ahmed Radwan2, Filip De Ridder1, Stefan Sunaert2,3, and Hubert Raeymaekers1
1Department of Radiology and Magnetic Resonance, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel (UZ Brussel), Brussels, Belgium, 2Department of Imaging and Pathology, Translational MRI group, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium, 3Department of Radiology, UZ Leuven, Leuven, Belgium Keywords: Infectious Disease, COVID-19, Synthetic MR, Quantitative Imaging, Data Analysis, Voxel-wise Analysis, Voxel-based Analysis Motivation: The effect of COVID-19 on the brain is not fully understood. Simultaneous 3D-acquisition of relaxometry parameters can indicate where microstructure has changed.
Goal(s): To locate differences in T1, T2 and proton density in COVID-19 patients.
Approach: 3D-QALAS was performed on 17 volunteers and 17 patients. Relaxometry and segmentation maps were calculated and warped to a common space to compare both groups.
Results: T2 changes associated with COVID-19 were observed in left cerebellar white and grey matter and in WM of the brain stem and thalamus, along with increased right temporal and occipital T1 and PD, and decreased frontal T1, T2 and PD values.
Impact: A voxel-based relaxometry analysis using 3D-QALAS data,
including WM and PD, was performed for the first time, based on the hMRI
toolbox. Different patterns of parameter changes were observed in several brain
regions, possibly indicating different types of microstructural changes.
|