Abstract #1054

COVID-19-related anosmia is driven by inflammation and myelin alterations as shown by Voxel Based Analysis

Eleonora Lupi¹, Marta Gaviraghi¹, Elena Grosso¹, Anita Monteverdi², Marco Battiston³, Francesco Grussu^3,4, Baris Kanber^3,5, Ferran Prados Carrasco^3,5,6, Janine Makaronidis^7,8, Rebecca S Samson³, Marios C Yiannakas³, Egidio D’Angelo^1,2, Fulvia Palesi^1,2, and Claudia A. M. Gandini Wheeler-Kingshott^1,2,3

¹Department of Brain & Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy, ²Digital Neuroscience Centre, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy, ³NMR Research Unit, Queen Square MS Centre, Department of Neuroinflammation, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, United Kingdom, ⁴Radiomics Group, Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology, Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Barcelona, Spain, ⁵Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Centre for Medical Image Computing (CMIC), University College London, London, United Kingdom, ⁶E-Health Center, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain, ⁷Centre for Obesity Research, Department of Medicine, University College London, London, United Kingdom, ⁸National Institute of Health Research, UCLH Biomedical Research Centre, London, United Kingdom

Synopsis

Keywords: White Matter, COVID-19, Neuroinflammation, Voxel Based Analysis, g-ratio

Motivation: Voxel Based Analysis (VBA) can be a powerful tool to detect localized alterations.

Goal(s): Here VBA was used to understand the underpinnings of COVID-19-related anosmia.

Approach: Quantitative magnetization transfer and diffusion-weighted imaging derived maps were used to detect pathological changes affecting white matter structures.

Results: Microstructural differences were detected between healthy controls and subjects experiencing anosmia or those who recovered from it. Results highlighted the presence of widespread inflammation in persistent anosmia subjects, with myelin damage and possible repair in those who recovered. Myelin alterations involved the olfactory circuit, as well as other brain regions, providing insights into possible mechanisms of COVID-19-related anosmia.

Impact: Voxel Based Analysis is a powerful tool to highlight local tissue disruption linked to neuroinflammatory processes. Here VBA provided an insight into microstructure and myelin changes associated to COVID-19-related persistent or recovered anosmia symptoms.

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