Assessing the cognitive performance of patients diagnosed with COVID-19, over time, throughout a cognitive motoring software: Brain on Track. This is the objective of a project of the Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade do Porto, financed under the initiative “Gulbenkian Sluções Digitais COVID-19”.
Supported with a sum of around 10 thousand euros, the project, coordinated by the ISPUP researcher, Vítor Tedim Cruz , aims to monitor the cognitive performance of people, over 18 years, diagnosed with COVID-19, and followed in the Unidade Local de Saúde de Matosinhos and in the Centro Hospitalar de Entre Douro e Vouga.
The monitoring of the cognitive performance of the people infected is relevant because the SARS-CoV-2 virus accesses the central nervous system, and it is not known to what extent it may cause long-term cognitive changes.
The assessment will take place, every 3 months, using the self-administered digital instrument, Brain on Track. Through this tool, participants fill in questionnaires and do online exercises, which will serve as a basis for measuring cognitive performance.
Individuals with cognitive performance lower than expected will be referred for neurological consultation
Brain on Track has been used by ISPUP to assess the cognitive trajectories in idividuals that integrate some of the populational cohorts of the Institute, such as the EPIPorto cohort.
In the project now financed, people who, over time, present cognitive trajectories lower than expected will be called in for a neurological consultation. The access to Brain on Track to this purpose in free of charges and universal.
The researchers Nuno Lunet, Luís Ruano and Joana Pais, from ISPUP, are also part of the project team, which has as partner entities the Neuroinova, Lda (company dedicated to the development of Brain on Track), the Unidade Local de Saúde de Matosinhos and the Centro Hospitalar Entre Douro e Vouga.
The initiative “Gulbenkian Soluções Digitais COVID-19” is promoted by the Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, with the support of EDP and the legal monitoring of the Cuatrecasas.
