Rapid brain atrophy after COVID-19 encephalitis; Disintegrata Furiosa!
Abstract Objectives: We had a patient with COVID-19 encephalitis who demonstrated striking brain atrophy on 3 MRI scans 60 days apart. We aimed to quantify the volume loss and brain atrophy. This is the first report that quantifies brain atrophy with COVID encephalitis.Methods: A 75 year old partially vaccinated man with COVID encephalitis underwent 3 serial MRI scans. Manual volumetry using PACS software was used to average and quantify brain atrophy between the three scans.Results: In 60 days, our patient had approximately 11.52 % (117 ml) of forebrain atrophy, which corresponded to 78 years of accelerated aging. Cerebellar atrophy of 6.2% (7.7 cc) was also noted. Discussion: We have demonstrated striking brain atrophy with COVID encephalitis. Brain involvement and atrophy or connectome disruptions might contribute to post COVID cognitive impairment. Serial MRI scans after COVID-19 and volumetric analysis may detect post COVID brain atrophy as a cause of cognitive dysfunction.