Exploring the Relationship between Telomere Length and Cognitive Changes in Post-COVID-19 Subjects

• Published in: Biomedicines Vol. 12; no. 10; p. 2296
• Main Authors: Villar-Juárez, Guillermo Efrén, Genis-Mendoza, Alma Delia, Martínez-López, J Nicolas I, Fresan, Ana, Tovilla-Zaráte, Carlos Alfonso, Nolasco-Rosales, German Alberto, Juárez-De la Cruz, Ghandy Isidro, Ramos, David Ruiz, Villar-Soto, Mario, Mejía-Ortiz, Paola, Gómez Mendiola, Marlen, Juárez-Rojop, Isela Esther, Nicolini, Humberto
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 10.10.2024; MDPI
• Subjects: Causes of; Chromosomes; Cognition; Cognition & reasoning; Cognitive ability; cognitive changes; COVID-19; Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid; Genetic testing; Health aspects; Infection; Infections; Leukocytes; Mental disorders; Mental illness; Pandemics; Physiological aspects; Polymerase chain reaction; post-COVID-19; Psychiatrists; SARS-CoV-2; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Sociodemographics; Statistical analysis; telomere length; Telomeres; Type 2 diabetes; Mexico; Canada; Montreal Quebec Canada; post-COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; cognitive changes; telomere length
• ISSN: 2227-9059; 2227-9059
• DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12102296

Emerging evidence suggests that patients suffering from COVID-19 may experience neurocognitive symptoms. Furthermore, other studies indicate a probable association between leukocyte telomere length (LTL) and neurocognitive changes in subjects with post-COVID-19 condition. Our study was designed to determine the correlation between telomere length and cognitive changes in post-COVID-19 subjects. This study included 256 subjects, categorized based on SARS-CoV-2 infection from 2020 to 2023. In addition, subjects with a psychiatric diagnosis were considered. Moreover, the MoCA and MMSE scales were applied. Telomere length was determined using a polymerase chain reaction, and statistical analysis was employed using ANOVA and X tests. We identified a decrease in LTL in individuals with post-COVID-19 conditions compared to those without SARS-CoV-2 infection ( ≤ 0.05). However, no association was found between LTL and cognitive impairment in the subjects post-COVID-19. The findings suggest that LTL is affected by SARS-CoV-2 infection. Nonetheless, this important finding requires further research by monitoring neurological changes in subjects with post-COVID condition.