Abstract
Objective Neuropathology caused by COVID-19 has been widely reported, and the characterisation of the spatial distribution of these pathology remains critical to assess long and short-term neurological sequelae.
Methods We performed a systematic review of the literature to quantify the locations of small neurological events identified with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) among COVID-19 patients. Neurological events were localised into the Desikan-Killiany grey and white matter atlases. A mathematical network diffusion model was then used to test whether the spatial distribution of neurological events could be explained via a linear spread through the structural connectome of the brain.
Results The highest proportions (26%) of white matter events were observed within the bilateral corticospinal tracts. The highest proportions (~10%) of grey matter events were observed in areas including the bilateral superior temporal, precentral, and lateral occipital cortices. Sub-cortical events were most frequently identified in the Pallidum. The application of a mathematical network diffusion model suggested that the spatial pattern of the small neurological events in COVID-19 can be modelled with a linear diffusion of spread from epicentres in the bilateral cerebellum and basal ganglia (Pearson’s r=0.41, p<0.001, corrected).
Conclusions To our knowledge, this is the first study to systematically characterise the spatial distribution of small neurological events in COVID-19 patients and test whether the spatial distribution of these events can be explained by a linear diffusion spread model. As such, initial sub-cortical events which manifest as altered consciousness could be expected to be followed by later cortical events manifesting as altered sensorimotor functioning.
Methods We performed a systematic review of the literature to quantify the locations of small neurological events identified with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) among COVID-19 patients. Neurological events were localised into the Desikan-Killiany grey and white matter atlases. A mathematical network diffusion model was then used to test whether the spatial distribution of neurological events could be explained via a linear spread through the structural connectome of the brain.
Results The highest proportions (26%) of white matter events were observed within the bilateral corticospinal tracts. The highest proportions (~10%) of grey matter events were observed in areas including the bilateral superior temporal, precentral, and lateral occipital cortices. Sub-cortical events were most frequently identified in the Pallidum. The application of a mathematical network diffusion model suggested that the spatial pattern of the small neurological events in COVID-19 can be modelled with a linear diffusion of spread from epicentres in the bilateral cerebellum and basal ganglia (Pearson’s r=0.41, p<0.001, corrected).
Conclusions To our knowledge, this is the first study to systematically characterise the spatial distribution of small neurological events in COVID-19 patients and test whether the spatial distribution of these events can be explained by a linear diffusion spread model. As such, initial sub-cortical events which manifest as altered consciousness could be expected to be followed by later cortical events manifesting as altered sensorimotor functioning.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Article number | 033 |
Number of pages | 1 |
Journal | BMJ Neurology Open |
Volume | 3 |
Issue number | Suppl 1 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Aug 2021 |
Externally published | Yes |
Event | Australian & New Zealand Association of Neurologists (ANZAN) Annual Scientific Meeting 2021: Virtual Forefronts - online Duration: 19 May 2021 → 21 May 2021 https://neurologyopen.bmj.com/content/3/Suppl_1 |