Oscar Y. Franco-Rocha

Department of Adult Health, School of Nursing, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA

Publications

• Research Article   
  Accelerated Brain Age in Young to Early Middle-Aged Adults after Mild to Moderate COVID-19 Infection
  Author(s): Shelli R Kesler*, Oscar Y. Franco-Rocha, Alexa De La Torre Schutz, Kimberly A. Lewis, Rija M Aziz, W. Michael Brode and Esther Melamed
  
  Background: Cognitive decline is a common adverse effect of the Coronavirus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19), particularly in the post-acute disease phase. The mechanisms of cognitive impairment after COVID-19 (COGVID) remain unclear, but neuroimaging studies provide evidence of brain changes, many that are associated with aging. Aim of the study: To calculate Brain Age Gap (BAG), which is the difference between brain age and chronological age. Material and Methods: BAG was measured in a cohort of 25 mild to moderate COVID-19 survivors (did not experience breathlessness, pneumonia, or respiratory/organ failure) and 24 non-infected controls (mean age=30 ± 8) using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Results: BAG was significantly higher in the COVID-19 group (F=4.22, p=0.046).. Read More»