Psychomotor Symptoms, Cognitive Impairments, and Suicidal Thoughts after COVID-19 Infection: A Case Report and Possible Allostatic Mechanism

Ying Lin, Chen Lin, Jason Hong Yi Chang, Dai Lun Chiang, Feipei Lai, Chen Ju Lin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Although neuropsychiatric manifestations are common in survivors of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the pathophysiology is not yet elucidated. Here we describe the case of a geriatric inpatient who developed post-COVID depression with psychomotor retardation, anxiety, hope-lessness, executive function problems, and suicidal ideations. The language problems and cognitive impairments coemerged with the motor problems. We propose a mechanism associated with problems in energy prediction and regulation in which the coronavirus infection, which causes neuroinflammation and viral activity in the nervous system, interferes with the reward pathway and sensory prediction process. Sigma-1 receptor agonists such as sertraline may regulate energy expenditure and, thus, be beneficial to the process. The treatment improvements in our patient included those in the autonomic nervous system, activity, and circadian rhythm.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)370-374
Number of pages5
JournalAnnals of Geriatric Medicine and Research
Volume28
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Sep 2024

Keywords

  • Aged
  • Allostasis
  • COVID brain fog
  • COVID-19
  • Post-acute COVID-19 syndrome

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