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Petersen M, Becker B, Schell M, Mayer C, Naegele FL, Petersen E, Twerenbold R, Thomalla G, Cheng B, Betz C, Hoffmann AS. Reduced olfactory bulb volume accompanies olfactory dysfunction after mild SARS-CoV-2 infection. Sci Rep 2024; 14:13396. [PMID: 38862636 PMCID: PMC11167024 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-64367-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite its high prevalence, the determinants of smelling impairment in COVID-19 remain not fully understood. In this work, we aimed to examine the association between olfactory bulb volume and the clinical trajectory of COVID-19-related smelling impairment in a large-scale magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) analysis. Data of non-vaccinated COVID-19 convalescents recruited within the framework of the prospective Hamburg City Health Study COVID Program between March and December 2020 were analyzed. At baseline, 233 participants underwent MRI and neuropsychological testing as well as a structured questionnaire for olfactory function. Between March and April 2022, olfactory function was assessed at follow-up including quantitative olfactometric testing with Sniffin' Sticks. This study included 233 individuals recovered from mainly mild to moderate SARS-CoV-2 infections. Longitudinal assessment demonstrated a declining prevalence of self-reported olfactory dysfunction from 67.1% at acute infection, 21.0% at baseline examination and 17.5% at follow-up. Participants with post-acute self-reported olfactory dysfunction had a significantly lower olfactory bulb volume at baseline than normally smelling individuals. Olfactory bulb volume at baseline predicted olfactometric scores at follow-up. Performance in neuropsychological testing was not significantly associated with the olfactory bulb volume. Our work demonstrates an association of long-term self-reported smelling dysfunction and olfactory bulb integrity in a sample of individuals recovered from mainly mild to moderate COVID-19. Collectively, our results highlight olfactory bulb volume as a surrogate marker that may inform diagnosis and guide rehabilitation strategies in COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marvin Petersen
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Benjamin Becker
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Maximilian Schell
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Carola Mayer
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Felix L Naegele
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Elina Petersen
- Population Health Research Department, University Heart and Vascular Center, Hamburg, Germany
- Department of Cardiology, University Heart and Vascular Center, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Raphael Twerenbold
- Population Health Research Department, University Heart and Vascular Center, Hamburg, Germany
- Department of Cardiology, University Heart and Vascular Center, Hamburg, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Hamburg/Kiel/Luebeck, Hamburg, Germany
- University Center of Cardiovascular Science, University Heart and Vascular Center, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Götz Thomalla
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Bastian Cheng
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Christian Betz
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Anna S Hoffmann
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
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van der Knaap N, Ariës MJH, van der Horst ICC, Jansen JFA. On the merits and potential of advanced neuroimaging techniques in COVID-19: A scoping review. Neuroimage Clin 2024; 42:103589. [PMID: 38461701 PMCID: PMC10938171 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2024.103589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/03/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Many Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients are suffering from long-term neuropsychological sequelae. These patients may benefit from a better understanding of the underlying neuropathophysiological mechanisms and identification of potential biomarkers and treatment targets. Structural clinical neuroimaging techniques have limited ability to visualize subtle cerebral abnormalities and to investigate brain function. This scoping review assesses the merits and potential of advanced neuroimaging techniques in COVID-19 using literature including advanced neuroimaging or postmortem analyses in adult COVID-19 patients published from the start of the pandemic until December 2023. Findings were summarized according to distinct categories of reported cerebral abnormalities revealed by different imaging techniques. Although no unified COVID-19-specific pattern could be subtracted, a broad range of cerebral abnormalities were revealed by advanced neuroimaging (likely attributable to hypoxic, vascular, and inflammatory pathology), even in absence of structural clinical imaging findings. These abnormalities are validated by postmortem examinations. This scoping review emphasizes the added value of advanced neuroimaging compared to structural clinical imaging and highlights implications for brain functioning and long-term consequences in COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noa van der Knaap
- Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Department of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Research Institute of Mental Health & Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Marcel J H Ariës
- Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Research Institute of Mental Health & Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Iwan C C van der Horst
- Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Jacobus F A Jansen
- Department of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Research Institute of Mental Health & Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Department of Electrical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, the Netherlands.
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Thaploo D, Joshi A, Yilmaz E, Yildirim D, Altundag A, Hummel T. Functional connectivity patterns in parosmia. BEHAVIORAL AND BRAIN FUNCTIONS : BBF 2023; 19:24. [PMID: 38115149 PMCID: PMC10731743 DOI: 10.1186/s12993-023-00225-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Parosmia is a qualitative olfactory dysfunction presenting as "distorted odor perception" in presence of an odor source. Aim of this study was to use resting state functional connectivity to gain more information on the alteration of olfactory processing at the level of the central nervous system level. METHODS A cross sectional study was performed in 145 patients with parosmia (age range 20-76 years; 90 women). Presence and degree of parosmia was diagnosed on the basis of standardized questionnaires. Participants also received olfactory testing using the "Sniffin' Sticks". Then they underwent resting state scans using a 3 T magnetic resonance imaging scanner while fixating on a cross. RESULTS Whole brain analyses revealed reduced functional connectivity in salience as well as executive control networks. Region of interest-based analyses also supported reduced functional connectivity measures between primary and secondary olfactory eloquent areas (temporal pole, supramarginal gyrus and right orbitofrontal cortex; dorso-lateral pre-frontal cortex and the right piriform cortex). CONCLUSIONS Participants with parosmia exhibited a reduced information flow between memory, decision making centers, and primary and secondary olfactory areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Divesh Thaploo
- Smell & Taste Clinic, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Universitätsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstrasse 74, 01307, Dresden, Germany.
| | - Akshita Joshi
- Smell & Taste Clinic, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Universitätsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstrasse 74, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Eren Yilmaz
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Istanbul Gelisim University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Duzgun Yildirim
- Department of Medical Imaging, Acibadem University, Vocational School of Health Sciences, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Aytug Altundag
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Biruni University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Thomas Hummel
- Smell & Taste Clinic, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Universitätsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstrasse 74, 01307, Dresden, Germany
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Winter AL, Henecke S, Lundström JN, Thunell E. Impairment of quality of life due to COVID-19-induced long-term olfactory dysfunction. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1165911. [PMID: 37151341 PMCID: PMC10157159 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1165911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Olfactory dysfunction is one of many long-lasting symptoms associated with COVID-19, estimated to affect approximately 60% of individuals and often lasting several months after infection. The associated daily life problems can cause a decreased quality of life. Methods Here, we assessed the association between perceived quality of life and both qualitative and quantitative olfactory function (distorted and weakened sense of smell, respectively) in 58 individuals who had undergone confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and who complained about olfactory dysfunction. Results Participants with large quantitative olfactory dysfunction experienced a greater reduction in their quality of life. Moreover, our participants had a high prevalence of qualitative olfactory dysfunction (81%) with a significant correlation between qualitative olfactory dysfunction and daily life impairment. Strong drivers of low quality of life assessments were lack of enjoyment of food as well as worries related to coping with long-term dysfunctions. Discussion These results stress the clinical importance of assessing qualitative olfactory dysfunction and the need to develop relevant interventions. Given the poor self-rated quality of life observed, healthcare systems should consider developing support structures, dietary advice, and guidelines adapted to individuals experiencing qualitative olfactory dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anja L. Winter
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- *Correspondence: Anja L. Winter,
| | - Sofie Henecke
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Johan N. Lundström
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Stockholm University Brain Imaging Centre, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Evelina Thunell
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
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