The risk of cognitive decline and dementia in older adults diagnosed with COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Ageing Res Rev. 2024 Nov:101:102448. doi: 10.1016/j.arr.2024.102448. Epub 2024 Aug 8.

Abstract

Background: Cognitive impairment can be caused by infections with various pathogens, including SARS-CoV-2. Research has yet to determine the true incidence and course of cognitive impairment in older adults following COVID-19. Furthermore, research has theorised that COVID-19 is associated with dementia progression and diagnosis but this association has yet to be fully described.

Methods: A systematic review was registered in Prospero and conducted on the databases PubMed, Embase, Ovid, CENTRAL and Cochrane Library. Studies reporting cognitive impairment and dementia outcomes in post-acute and post-COVID-19 patients aged ≥65 years, and which included control data, were included in this review.

Results: 15,124 articles were identified by the search strategy. After eliminating duplicate titles and completing title, abstracts and full-text review, 18 studies were included comprising of 412,957 patients with COVID-19 (46.63 % male) and 411,929 patients without COVID-19 (46.59 % male). The overall mean Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score in COVID-19 patients was 23.34 out of 30 (95 % CI [22.24, 24.43]). indicating cognitive impairment. The overall proportion of patients identified as having new onset cognitive impairment was 65 % (95 % CI [44,81]). Subgroup analyses indicated that time since infection significantly improves overall MoCA score and reduces proportion of patients with cognitive impairment.

Conclusion: This study indicates that cognitive impairment may be an important sequela of COVID-19. Further research with adequate sample sizes is warranted regarding COVID-19's association with new-onset dementia and dementia progression, and the effect of repeat infections. There is a need for development of diagnostic and management protocols for COVID-19 patients with cognitive impairment.

Keywords: COVID-19; Cognitive impairment; Dementia; Long COVID.

Publication types

  • Meta-Analysis
  • Systematic Review

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • COVID-19* / complications
  • COVID-19* / epidemiology
  • COVID-19* / psychology
  • Cognitive Dysfunction* / diagnosis
  • Cognitive Dysfunction* / epidemiology
  • Cognitive Dysfunction* / etiology
  • Cognitive Dysfunction* / psychology
  • Dementia* / diagnosis
  • Dementia* / epidemiology
  • Dementia* / etiology
  • Dementia* / psychology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Risk Factors
  • SARS-CoV-2