Prior COVID-19 Infection May Cause Reduced Sensorimotor Function

Prior COVID-19 infection was associated with weaker right-handed grip strength and slower walk speeds according to a study presented at the 2023 meeting of the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC). The results suggest that COVID-19 infection may impact sensorimotor function, contributing to our growing understanding of the long-term detrimental effects of this disease.

The study included 101 adult participants from 1 UK and 3 US member sites of the neuroCOVID consortium, a group comprising the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, the Houston Research Institute, the University of Pittsburgh, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Nottingham University. Seventy-seven participants had previous COVID-19 infection, 24 had no known prior infection, and none of the participants had prior cerebrovascular disease or cognitive impairment. Participants were assessed for sense of smell using the Brief Smell Identification Test (B-SIT), gait using 4-meter normal walk time and 4-meter fast-paced walk time, and grip strength using a hand dynamometer. Researchers used linear regression models to analyze statistical associations between sensorimotor outcomes and COVID-19 infection status, adjusting for participant demographics.

Participants with prior COVID-19 infection were found to have reduced gait speed compared to healthy participants when walking normally and at fast pace. COVID-19 survivors also had reduced grip strength in the right hand compared to the participants without infection. No associations were identified between COVID-19 status and left-handed grip strength or B-SIT score.

The study authors are affiliated with the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, the Houston Methodist Research Institute, the Alzheimer’s Association, the University of Pittsburgh, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust.