Grant: Doctoral Research Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships

In the Spring of 2020, the lives of people worldwide have changed in unimaginable ways. Activities that were once deemed normal everyday activities now require careful consideration, weighing the potential risks against the benefits. Decisions are now made in regards to what is deemed safe, or of an acceptable level of risk, on a daily basis. In order to make these decisions, it is important to be fully aware of the impact that contracting the SARS-CoV2 virus can have on overall health. Importantly, several cases have been reported where SARS-CoV2 infection led to neurological symptoms including severe headache, nausea, loss of smell and taste, and even stroke. A large amount of evidence now shows that the virus can not only enter but also damage the brain, and, in some cases, this damage can prove to be fatal. Although there are known neurological complications to Covid-19, much remains unknown concerning the mechanisms at play. In this project, we will study the impact of Covid-19 on the brain, especially on white matter (the connective pathways between neurons) and cognition, using brain imaging techniques (MRI) and cognitive tests. We will also explore how risk factors, such as hypertension, diabetes, and smoking, influence the impact that Covid-19 has on white matter and cognition, as the presence of these risk factors has been shown to increase the risk of neurological complications with Covid-19. Neurological pathologies have a high incidence in Covid-19 patients, occurring in over one third of patients. These neurological complications lead to severe symptoms and high mortality rates. Our goal is to uncover the type of damage that can occur within the brain following SARS-CoV2 infection. We hope this study will be the first step in designing effective prevention and intervention programs to reduce the incidence and severity of neurological complications with Covid-19 in future research.