Revista CEFAC
https://revistacefac.org.br/article/doi/10.1590/1982-0216/20252764725
Revista CEFAC
Original Articles

Cognitive performance and narrative discourse after SARS-CoV-2 infection

Franklim Oliveira Souza; Nathália Monteiro Santos; Pablo Jordão Alcântara Cruz; Carla Patrícia Hernandez Alves Ribeiro Cesar; Rafael Ciro Marques Cavalcante; Franciely Oliveira de Andrade Santos; Kelly da Silva; Raphaela Barroso Guedes Granzotti

Downloads: 0
Views: 734

Abstract

Purpose: to evaluate cognitive performance and narrative discourse, as well as possible associations in individuals affected by COVID-19.

Methods: a cross-sectional exploratory research involving individuals infected by COVID-19 and hospitalized in the State of Sergipe. Participants underwent anamnesis, the Mini-Mental State Examination, Neupsilin and Montreal Toulouse Language Assessment Battery Collection (MTL/Brazil). The statistical tests employed were the Shapiro-Wilk test to assess the normality of data distribution, the nonparametric Mann-Whitney test for comparing two independent samples, and Spearman's correlation to evaluate the monotonic relationship between variables. The significance level was set at P < 0.05

Results: thirty-two individuals participated in the anamnesis (75% males, 25% females). A significant correlation was found between the working memory and discourse skills (P < 0.01). Discourse analysis using the Mann-Whitney test revealed significant differences in the total number of scenes (P = 0.005; d = 0.5) and the total number of Information Units (P = 0.017; d = 0.3). These findings suggest that COVID-19 has a substantial impact on speech, affecting verbal fluency, auditory span, digit sequencing, and working memory, thereby influencing memory storage and retrieval processes.

Conclusion: the impact of the pandemic in this area covers a wide range of cognitive and discursive skills.

Keywords

SARS-CoV-2; Cognition; Memory; Language

Referencias

1. Giusti L, Mammarella S, Salza A, Del Vecchio S, Ussorio D, Casacchia M et al. Predictors of academic performance during the COVID-19 outbreak: Impact of distance education on mental health, social cognition and memory abilities in an Italian university student sample. BMC Psychol. 2021;9(1):1-17. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-021-00649-9 PMID: 34526153.

2. Yüce M, Filiztekin E, Özkaya KG. COVID-19 diagnosis - A review of current methods. Biosens Bioelectron. 2021;172(1):112752. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bios.2020.112752 PMID: 33126180.

3. Martora F, Fabbrocini G, Nappa P, Megna M. COVID-19 and cutaneous manifestations: A review of the published literature. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2023;22(1):4-10. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocd.15477 PMID: 36342945.

4. World Health Organization - WHO [webpage on the internet]. Coronavirus (COVID-19) Dashboard 2024 Jan 18 [accessed on 2024 jan 18]. Available at: https://covid19.who.int/

5. Orellana JDY, Marrero L, Horta BL. Letalidade hospitalar por COVID-19 em quatro capitais brasileiras e sua possível relação temporal com a variante Gama, 2020-2021. Epidemiol Serv Saude. 2021;30(1):e2021709. https://doi.org/10.1590/s1679-49742021000400024

6. Zhang W, Du RH, Sun R, Yang R, Zhang XE. Recent advances of functional nucleic acid-based sensors for point-of-care detection of SARS-CoV-2. Microchim Acta. 2022;189(3):128. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-022-05242-4 PMID: 35717434.

7. Chen Y, Yang W, Chen F, Cui L. COVID-19 and cognitive impairment: Neuroinvasive and blood-brain barrier dysfunction. J Neuroinflammation. 2022;19(1):222. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12974-022-02557-7 PMID: 36071466.

8. Golzari-Sorkheh M, Weaver DF, Reed MA. COVID-19 as a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease. J Alzheimers Dis. 2023;91(1):1-23. https://doi.org/10.3233/JAD-220800 PMID: 36314211.

9. Yadav T, Kumar S, Mishra G, Saxena SK. Tracking the COVID-19 vaccines: The global landscape. Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2023;19(1):2191577. https://doi.org/10.1080/21645515.2023.2191577 PMID: 36995773.

10. Davis HE, McCorkell L, Vogel LM, Topol EL. Long COVID: Major findings, mechanisms and recommendations. Nat Rev Microbiol. 2023;21(3):133-46. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41579-022-00846-2 PMID: 36639608.

11. Grundmann A, Wu CH, Hardwick M, Baillie JK, Openshaw PJ, Semple MG et al. Fewer COVID-19 neurological complications with dexamethasone and remdesivir. Ann Neurol. 2023;93(1):88-102. https://doi.org/10.1002/ana.26629 PMID: 36261315.

12. Curley GA, Klepe A, Francistiová L, Gulya K, Dinnyés A. Cellular and molecular effects of SARS-CoV-2 linking lung infection to the brain. Front Immunol. 2021;12(1):3248. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2021.730088 PMID: 34484241.

13. Savikangas T, Törmäkangas T, Tirkkonen A, Alen M, Fielding RA, Kivipelto M et al. The effects of a physical and cognitive training intervention vs. physical training alone on older adults' physical activity: A randomized controlled trial with extended follow-up during COVID-19. PLoS One. 2021;16(10):e0258559. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0258559 PMID: 34644357.

14. Quinn KL, Lam GY, Walsh JF, Bhéreur A, Brown AD, Chow CW et al. Cardiovascular considerations in the management of people with suspected long Covid. Can J Cardiol. 2023;39(6):741-53. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cjca.2023.03.007 PMID: 37030518.

15. Muccioli L, Pensato U, Cani I, Guerra L, Provini F, Bordin G et al. COVID-19-related encephalopathy presenting with aphasia resolving following tocilizumab treatment. J Neuroimmunol. 2020;349:577400. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneuroim.2020.577400 PMID: 33032013.

16. Kong APH. COVID-19 and aphasia. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep. 2021;21:1-8. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11910-021-01133-7 PMID: 34674039.

17. Bryce-Moncloa A, Bryce-Alberti M, Portmann-Baracco A, Urquiaga-Calderón J, Larrauri-Vigna C, Alegría-Valdivia E. COVID-19 from a cardiovascular perspective. Arch Cardiol Mex. 2021;91:86-94. https://doi.org/10.24875/ACM.20000229 PMID: 33871468.

18. Büttner-Kunert J, Blöchinger S, Falkowska Z, Rieger T, Oslmeier C. Interaction of discourse processing impairments, communicative participation, and verbal executive functions in people with chronic traumatic brain injury. Front Psychol. 2022;13:892216. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.892216 PMID: 36275227.

19. Coelho CA. Management of discourse deficits following traumatic brain injury: Progress, caveats, and needs. Semin Speech Lang. 2007;28(2):122-35. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2007-970570 PMID: 17427051.

20. García JC, Díez E, Wojcik DZ, Santamaría M. Communication support needs in adults with intellectual disabilities and its relation to quality of life. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(20):7370. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17207370 PMID: 33050216.

21. Cuschieri S. The STROBE guidelines. Saudi J Anaesth. 2019;13(Suppl 1):S31. https://doi.org/10.4103/sja.SJA_543_18 PMID: 30930717.

22. Kweon OJ, Kim HR, Lee MK, Lim YK. Real-world accuracy of a SARS-CoV-2 rapid diagnostic tests in the Republic of Korea. J Korean Med Sci. 2022;37(43):e320. https://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2022.37.e320 PMID: 35476704.

23. Spedo CT, Pereira DA, Foss MP, Barreira AA. Adaptação brasileira do Mini-Mental State Examination: guia portátil e tabela de normas. São Paulo: Hogrefe; 2018. https://doi.org/10.1080/13854046.2015.1093173

24. Pawlowski J, Remor E, de Salles JF, Parente MADMP, Fonseca RP, Bandeira DR. Evidência de validade de construto do NEUPSILIN utilizando análise fatorial confirmatória. Actualidades en Psicol. 2014;28(117):37-52.

25. Marquete VF, Chaves TA, Barreto SDS. The effectiveness of speech therapy at the discourse level: Case study of language-cognitive disorder in dementia. CoDAS. 2021;33(2):e20200023. https://doi.org/10.1590/2317-1782/20202020023 PMID: 34008775.

26. Cohen J. Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences. 2nd ed. Routledge; 2013.

27. Ceban F, Ling S, Lui LM, Lee Y, Gill H, Teopiz KM et al. Fatigue and cognitive impairment in post-COVID-19 Syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Brain Behav Immun. 2022;101:93-135. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2021.12.020 PMID: 34973396.

28. Crivelli L, Palmer K, Calandri I, Guekht A, Beghi E, Carroll W et al. Changes in cognitive functioning after COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Alzheimer's & Dementia. 2022;18(5):1047-66. https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.12644 PMID: 35297561.

29. Au Yeung SL, Wong THT, He B, Luo S, Kwok KO. Does ACE2 mediate the detrimental effect of exposures related to COVID-19 risk: A Mendelian randomization investigation. J Med Virol. 2023;95(1):e28205. https://doi.org/10.1093/ije/dyac076 PMID: 36217700.

30. Ng JH, Sun A, Je HS, Tan EK. Unravelling pathophysiology of neurological and psychiatric complications of COVID-19 using brain organoids. Neuroscientist. 2023;29(1):30-40. https://doi.org/10.1177/10738584211015136 PMID: 34036855.

31. Oudit GY, Wang K, Viveiros A, Kellner MJ, Penninger JM. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2-At the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic. Cell. 2023;186(5):906-22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2023.06.027 PMID: 36787743.

32. Langton-Frost N, Brodsky MB. Speech-language pathology approaches to neurorehabilitation in acute care during COVID-19: Capitalizing on neuroplasticity. PM&R. 2022;14(2):217-26. https://doi.org/10.1002/pmrj.12691 PMID: 34595841.

33. Ramage AE. Potential for cognitive communication impairment in COVID-19 survivors: A call to action for speech-language pathologists. Am J Speech Lang Pathol. 2020;29(4):1821-32. https://doi.org/10.1044/2020_AJSLP-20-00147 PMID: 32946270.

34. Kim BS, Lee MS. Discourse performance and related cognitive function in mild cognitive impairment and dementia: A preliminary study. Appl Neuropsychol Adult. 2023;30(2):194-203. https://doi.org/10.1080/23279095.2021.1922408 PMID: 34392759.

35. Henderson A, Kim H, Kintz S, Frisco N, Wright HH. Working memory in aphasia: Considering discourse processing and treatment implications. Semin Speech Lang. 2017;38(1):40-51. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0036-1597257 PMID: 28201836.

36. Leaman MC, Edmonds LA. Analyzing language in the picnic scene picture and in conversation: The type of discourse sample we choose influences findings in people with aphasia. Am J Speech Lang Pathol. 2023;32(4):1413-30. https://doi.org/10.1044/2023_AJSLP-22-00279 PMID: 37256694.

37. Lippi G, Sanchis-Gomar F, Henry BM. COVID-19 and its long-term sequelae: What do we know in 2023. Pol Arch Intern Med. 2023;16402. https://doi.org/10.20452/pamw.16402 PMID: 36626183.

38. Lê K, Coelho C, Feinn R. Contribution of working memory and inferencing to narrative discourse comprehension and production in traumatic brain injury. J Speech Lang Hear Res. 2023;66(7):2346-61. https://doi.org/10.1044/2023_JSLHR-22-00632 PMID: 37257416.

39. Kleinman D, Morgan AM, Ostrand R, Wittenberg E. Lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on language processing. PLoS One. 2022;17(6):e0269242. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0269242 PMID: 35704594.

40. Cruice M, Botting N, Marshall J, Boyle M, Hersh D, Pritchard M et al. UK speech and language therapists' views and reported practices of discourse analysis in aphasia rehabilitation. Int J Lang Commun Disord. 2020;55(3):417-42. https://doi.org/10.1111/1460-6984.12528 PMID: 32090417.
 


Submitted date:
21/05/2025

Accepted date:
18/08/2025

693c1b4ca95395188b76b2a6 cefac Articles
Links & Downloads

Revista CEFAC

Share this page
Page Sections