Examining neuropsychological differences in adults afflicted by COVID-19 with and without anosmia

This study presents the outcomes of a research endeavor aimed at comparing the neuropsychological functioning of two distinct groups: one comprising individuals with both COVID-19 and anosmia, and the other without anosmia. A comprehensive neuropsychological assessment, involving ten tests, was administered to 60 participants, divided equally into two groups of 30. The group exhibiting anosmia displayed lower scores in lexical access, inhibitory control, strategy switching, visuoconstructive praxis, nonverbal memory, and verbal fluency functions. The effect sizes for these differences generally ranged from low to medium. Overall, the identified impairments strongly indicate deficits in executive functioning. Certain theories even propose that the frontal lobes may be the primary target of SARS-CoV-2 within the brain. To enhance our comprehension, future research could delve into the specific mechanisms through which the virus interacts with the prefrontal cortex, thereby illuminating the intricacies of COVID-19-related cognitive impairments.