Immune-mediated Pathogenic Mechanisms of Neuro-PASC in Veterans

Overview

Mental health symptoms, including cognitive impairment ("brain fog"), following COVID-19 are of great concern to Veterans. This research seeks to advance understanding of the long-term effects of COVID-19 on neuropsychiatric and neurological functions, identifying clinically relevant biomarkers and directions for developing and testing therapeutic interventions. To accomplish these objectives the investigators are conducting a longitudinal study at two VA medical centers to: 1) assess and monitor cognitive function and psychiatric symptoms in Veterans post-COVID; 2) evaluate biomarkers of inflammation and signaling pathways associated with viral infection and neuropsychiatric function; and 3) integrate neuropsychiatric and neurological findings with biological data to identify biomarkers and clinical endpoints associated with disease progression or severity, as well as those for promoting brain repair and attenuating those symptoms.

The goal of this research project is to identify the neuroinflammatory mechanisms contributing to post-COVID cognitive deficits and neuropsychiatric symptoms \[neuro-PASC (post-acute sequelae of SARS CoV-2 infection)\]. This collaborative research effort will also characterize new or worsened mental health symptoms and genetic and environmental risk factors for the incidence and severity of post-COVID neuropsychiatric impairments. Aim 1 will monitor and evaluate cognitive injury and neuro-PASC symptoms and determine whether APOE genotype modulates severity of the cognitive injury and neuro-PASC symptoms. Cognitive functioning will be evaluated over time using neuropsychological measures assessing domains most relevant to PASC: learning and memory, attention/concentration, social cognition/emotions, and executive function; assessments will include standardized measures. Mental health symptoms known to be induced and exacerbated by inflammation and potentially developing as a result of COVID-19 will also be evaluated. APOE genotyping will be determined based on saliva or blood samples. Aim 2 will identify immune-related biomarkers associated with cognitive injury and neuro-PASC symptoms. Blood (plasma and cells) will be used to identify biomarkers associated with PASC progression or severity, promotion of brain repair, attenuation of symptoms. Plasma will be used for Olink proteomics, followed by confirmatory multiplex assays or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). The investigators will assess relationships among biomarkers and cognitive injury and neuro-PASC symptoms across APOE genotypes and contribute data and samples to the repository managed by Dr. Moorman (Co-Investigator). Aim 3 (exploratory aim; conducted in Portland only) will assess neuroimaging correlates of cognitive injury and neuro-PASC symptoms. Neuroimaging evaluations (i.e., whole brain voxel-based morphometry, diffusion-tensor imaging, resting-state connectivity, and task-based assessments) will be conducted at baseline and at 12 months to correlate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measures with symptoms of long COVID (e.g., cognitive impairment and neuropsychiatric symptoms) across APOE genotypes.