Long-term subtle brain effects after mild or unnoticed COVID-19
Characterizing Persistent Subclinical Neurobehavioral Effects of COVID-19 in a Diverse Urban Population
This project compares brain scans and thinking skills in younger people who had mild or no COVID-19 to similar people who were never infected.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Albert Einstein College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bronx, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11307614 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be grouped with others based on blood and T‑cell tests that confirm whether you had a prior SARS‑CoV‑2 infection even if you were vaccinated. The team uses pre‑pandemic brain scans and cognitive tests already on file to compare how your brain structure and thinking changed after infection. Participants will have new blood tests, detailed cognitive testing, and brain imaging to look for small, 'subclinical' changes. Results focus on people who were healthy before the pandemic and did not need hospitalization for COVID‑19.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are younger adults who were healthy before the pandemic and have laboratory evidence of prior mild or asymptomatic SARS‑CoV‑2 infection or documented negative status with available pre‑pandemic brain/cognitive data.
Not a fit: People who had severe COVID‑19 requiring hospitalization, or those with prior brain disease or major comorbidities, are unlikely to match this study's focus and may not benefit from its findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal subtle brain changes after mild or asymptomatic COVID‑19 and help guide monitoring or early care for people at risk.
How similar studies have performed: Other studies have reported cognitive problems after COVID‑19 in older adults, but using pre‑pandemic baseline tests to detect subtle effects in younger, mild or asymptomatic cases is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Bronx, United States
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine — Bronx, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Daily, Johanna Patricia — Albert Einstein College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Daily, Johanna Patricia
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.