Owens Cameron D, Pinto Camila B, Szarvas Zsofia, Muranyi Mihaly, da C Pinaffi-Langley Ana Clara, Peterfi Anna, Mukli Peter, Detwiler Sam, Olay Lauren, Kaposzta Zalan, Smith Kenneth, Kirkpatrick Angelia C, Saleh Velez Faddi, Tarantini Stefano, Csiszar Anna, Ungvari Zoltan I, Prodan Calin I, Yabluchanskiy Andriy
Oklahoma Center for Geroscience and Healthy Brain Aging, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences, Oklahoma City, OK 73117, USA.
Vascular Cognitive Impairment and Neurodegeneration Program, Department of Neurosurgery, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA.
Biomolecules. 2024 Dec 18;14(12):1621. doi: 10.3390/biom14121621.
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) affects nearly 20% of older adults worldwide, with no targetable interventions for prevention. COVID-19 adversely affects cognition, with >70% of older adults with Long COVID presenting with cognitive complaints. Neurovascular coupling (NVC), an essential mechanism of cognitive function, declines with aging and is further attenuated in neurocognitive disorders. The effect of COVID-19 on NVC responses has yet to be addressed in older adults who are vulnerable to dementia progression. Participants with MCI and a history of COVID-19 (COV+, N = 31) and MCI participants with no history of infection (COV- N = 11) participated in this cross-sectional study to determine if COVID-19 affects cerebrocortical NVC responses and vascular function. Functional near-infrared spectroscopy was used to measure cerebrocortical NVC responses, and endothelial function was assessed via insonation of the brachial artery during a flow-mediated dilation protocol. NVC responses were elicited by the working memory -back paradigm. NVC in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and endothelial function was decreased in the COV+ group compared to the COV- group. These data provide mechanistic insight into how COVID-19 may exacerbate long-term cognitive sequela seen in older adults, highlighting the urgent need for further research and clinical trials to explore novel therapeutic interventions aimed at preserving/restoring NVC.
轻度认知障碍（MCI）影响着全球近20%的老年人，目前尚无针对性的预防干预措施。新冠病毒病（COVID-19）对认知产生不利影响，超过70%的患有长期新冠的老年人存在认知方面的主诉。神经血管耦合（NVC）是认知功能的一种重要机制，会随着年龄增长而衰退，在神经认知障碍中会进一步减弱。对于易患痴呆症进展的老年人，COVID-19对NVC反应的影响尚未得到研究。患有MCI且有COVID-19病史的参与者（COV+，N = 31）和无感染史的MCI参与者（COV-，N = 11）参与了这项横断面研究，以确定COVID-19是否会影响脑皮质NVC反应和血管功能。使用功能近红外光谱法测量脑皮质NVC反应，并在血流介导的血管舒张试验中通过对肱动脉进行超声检查来评估内皮功能。通过工作记忆-回溯范式引发NVC反应。与COV-组相比，COV+组左侧背外侧前额叶皮质的NVC反应和内皮功能降低。这些数据为COVID-19如何可能加剧老年人出现的长期认知后遗症提供了机制性见解，凸显了迫切需要进一步研究和开展临床试验，以探索旨在保留/恢复NVC的新型治疗干预措施。
