Neurochemical Alterations Caused by Persistent COVID-19-Induced Anosmia: Probing Orbitofrontal Cortex Metabolites and Potential Biomarker

Motivation: Olfactory impairments caused by COVID-19 have been addressed in neuroimaging findings over the past years. However, long-term complications on brain orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) needs to be further investigated. Goal(s): Our goal was to assess metabolites level change in the brain OFC region in COVID-induced anosmia subjects in comparison to healthy population. Approach: 54 subjects categorized into control, short- and long-term anosmia groups were studied using single voxel MRS. Metabolite level alterations of their brain OFC region were investigated. Results: We found that NAA, Cho, and Cr levels in brain OFC region decreased as COVID-induced anosmia duration and severity increased. Impact: The demonstrated results of alteration in brain metabolites level influenced by the severity of COVID-induced anosmia highlights MRS as a robust assessment tool for physicians to better investigate olfactory function impairment in the brain orbitofrontal cortex.