Functional connectivity of default mode network in non-hospitalized patients with post-COVID cognitive complaints
Derek Madden, Tressie Stephens, James G. Scott, Christen O'Neal Swann, Kiana Y. Prather, Jordan R. Hoffmeister, Lei Ding, Ian F. Dunn, Andrew K. Conner, Han Yuan
Frontiers in Neuroscience April 10, 2025 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2025.1576393 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional neuroimaging and neuropsychological study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Adults with post-COVID cognitive complaints following mild, non-hospitalized SARS-CoV-2 infection |
| Topics | Default mode network |
| Key findings | In adults with cognitive complaints after mild, non-hospitalized COVID-19, neuropsychological performance was nearly as expected for cognitively intact individuals, and default mode network functional connectivity was retained. Connectivity between key DMN nodes was positively correlated with cognitive scores (r = 0.51, p = 0.02), with higher performers showing higher DMN connectivity, which the authors offer as neuroimaging evidence of expected functional trends in recovering patients. |
Abstract
Introduction: Neurologic impairment is common in patients with acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. While patients with severe COVID have a higher prevalence of neurologic symptoms, as many as one in five patients with mild COVID may also be affected, exhibiting impaired memory as well as other cognitive dysfunctions.
Methods: To characterize the effect of COVID on the brain, the current study recruited a group of adults with post-COVID cognitive complaints but with mild, non-hospitalized cases. They were then evaluated through formal neuropsychological testing and underwent functional MRI of the brain. The participants in our study performed nearly as expected for cognitively intact individuals. Additionally, we characterized the functional connectivity of the default mode network (DMN), which is known for cognitive functions including memory as well as the attention functions involved in normal aging and degenerative diseases.
Results: Along with the retention of functional connectivity in the DMN, our results found the DMN to be associated with neurocognitive performance through region-of-interest and whole-brain analyses. The connectivity between key nodes of the DMN was positively correlated with cognitive scores (r = 0.51, p = 0.02), with higher performers exhibiting higher DMN connectivity.
Discussion: Our findings provide neuroimaging evidence of the functional connectivity of brain networks among individuals experiencing cognitive deficits beyond the recovery of mild COVID. These imaging outcomes indicate expected functional trends in the brain, furthering understanding and guidance of the DMN and neurocognitive deficits in patients recovering from COVID.