Abstract #1734

COVID19 effects on brain tissue microstructure: Longitudinal study of self-isolated cases using diffusion MRI

J. Jean Chen^1,2, Jordan A. Chad^1,2, Xiang Ji³, Bradley J. Macintosh^1,3, Asaf Gilboa^2,4, Eugenie Roudaia², Allison Sekuler^2,4, Benjamin Lam³, Chris Heyn³, Sandra E. Black³, and Simon J. Graham^1,3

¹Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada, ²Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Health Sciences, Toronto, ON, Canada, ³Hurvitz Brain Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada, ⁴Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

The impact of COVID19 on the brain’s microstructural integrity is still unclear. In this study, we study self-isolated COVID19 patients using diffusion-tensor and free-water imaging, based on single- and multi-shell acquisitions, respectively. We demonstrate reduced mean diffusivity and free water in both grey and white matter of patients in regions associated with vision and olfaction. At 3-month follow-up, microstructural abnormalities in patients appear to persist, and involve more brain regions, including parts of the default-mode network. Our results support the existence of measurable long-term, evolving brain deficits due to COVID19.

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