Cognitive impairment in the HTLV-1 infection: a comparative study associated with functional performance

Association between Cognitive Function and Depression with Human T-Cell Lymphotropic Virus 1 Seropositivity and Serointensity in UK Adults

“…Previous findings primarily from regions endemic for HTLV-1 suggest that HTLV-1 is associated with cognitive impairment and depression, consistent with associations between HTLV-1 and several types of neurological disease, including HAM/TSP [10,17,19]. Despite previous findings associating HTLV-1 with worse cognitive function and depression, however, our main findings in this community sample of adults in the UK are that there were no associations of HTLV-1 seropositivity and serointensity with performance on three cognitive tasks-reasoning, pairs-matching, and reaction time or depression.…”

“…This study found that while there were no differences in screening cognitive measures between groups, the combined overall HTLV-1 group had worse episodic memory and executive function, albeit with small effect sizes and worse fine-motor skills with large effect sizes compared to the control group. In addition, there were no differences in cognitive function between the HTLV-1 subgroups [17], findings suggesting that cognitive impairment in HTLV-1 can occur in the absence of HAM/TSP and in asymptomatic HTLV-1. In another study from Brazil [19], both asymptomatic HTLV-1 patients and HTLV-1 patients with HAM/TSP had worse cognitive function compared to healthy controls on some but not all of the assessed cognitive measures.…”

“…In addition to its association with adult T-cell leukemia [13], HTLV-1 is associated with several neurologic diseases including polymyositis, polyneuropathy, dysautonomia [15], motor-neuron disease [16], and HTLV-1-associated myelopathy and tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) [17], the last of which occurs in approximately 0.25 percent to 3.8 percent of all people with HTLV-1 [15] and which despite its name can occur in non-tropical regions [18]. HTLV-1 is also associated with some inflammatory diseases, such as arthritis and Sjögren's syndrome [13] and can cause chronic encephalomyelopathy.…”

Visuospatial processing impairment following mild COVID-19

“…Considering the relatively high prevalence of cognitive deficits in neuroinfections (Levine et al, 2020) and their impact on daily living, it is paramount to investigate impairments caused by COVID-19. Although we must consider pulmonary or neurovascular damage, other mental disorders, and psychosocial factors (Wang et al, 2020; Lopez-Leon et al, 2021; de Paula et a., 2020) as contributing factors, future studies should address the etiology of cognitive symptoms as a direct consequence of SARS-CoV-2 neuroinfection.…”

“…In other neurotropic viral infections, cognitive sequelae may occur due to brain damage or dysfunction owing to vascular lesions and inflammatory processes (Levine, Sacktor & Becker, 2020). Persistent cognitive impairments from viral infections are associated with activities of daily living and psychosocial adaptation (de Paula et al, 2020). Much from COVID-19 consequences is still veiled from its novelty.…”