MED COVID-19: Understanding the impact of COVID-19 on cognitive function

AD-Related Dementias Focus

Characterize the clinical phenotype and develop diagnostic criteria for neurocognitive impairment and dementia associated with COVID-19 in those with and without neurocognitive impairment/dementia prior to infection.

2029 NOT-AG-21-016: Neurological and Neurocognitive Sequelae from SARS-CoV-2 Infection and COVID-19 in Aging and Age-Related Neurodegeneration PAR-23-214: Neuropathological Interactions Between COVID-19 and ADRD (R01 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) PAR-24-203: Neuropathological Interactions Between COVID-19 and ADRD (R01 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) 11.N In Progress Understanding the impact of COVID-19 on cognitive function DN 2022 ADRD Summit: Multiple Etiology Dementias (MED) Special Topic: Impact of COVID-19 on AD/ADRD Risk and Outcomes Milestone 2, Priority 2 Enabling Technologies and Disease Monitoring Projects funded in FY22

  • Develop clinical diagnostic criteria that are specific for incident neurocognitive impairment and dementia associated with long-term outcomes, including temporal progression, following SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Summary of Key Accomplishments

NIA supports initiatives that aim to understand the impact of coronavirus on cognitive function. One initiative relates to basic and clinical mechanistic research on neurological and neurocognitive sequelae originating from SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 in aging and age-related neurodegeneration. Another announcement looks at animal, cell culture, and/or human tissue models to elucidate the mechanisms by which coronavirus interacts with and/or modulates ADRD-relevant mechanisms and outcome.

NIA also supported several grants in FY22 that explored effects of coronavirus and AD/ADRD and/or cognition. One project studies Alzheimer’s Disease-related biomarkers following SARS-CoV-2 Infection, which aims to elucidate predisposing risk factors and biomarkers for coronavirus-related cognitive abnormalities; provide mechanistic insights into underlying pathogenesis; and provide data on long- term outcomes, including the development of AD/ADRD-related disorders.

The key accomplishments summary is current as of September 2025.