COVID-19 and Cognitive and Mental Health during Post-Infection Phase: A Study Among Middle-Aged and Older Indigenous Adults from Brazilian Amazons

Abstract

Objectives to examine the rate of self-reported COVID-19 and its association with mental and cognitive health during the post-infection phase among middle-aged and older indigenous adults. Method A cross-sectional study was conducted, including one hundred forty-one individuals ≥50 and over from a urban indigenous community in Amazonas, Brazil. COVID-19 was deduced from self-reported infections. Cognitive function was evaluated using the Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE), Brief Cognitive Screening Battery (BCSB), and language fluency tests. Meanwhile, mental health was assessed through validated scales examining happiness, stress and depression symptoms. The association between the rate of COVID-19 and cognitive and mental wellbeing was analyzed using logistic and linear regressions, adjusted for covariates. Results From March 2020 to February 2022, 65.2% of the urban indigenous group tested positive for COVID-19. Lower functional capacity decreased the odds of contracting COVID-19 (p=0.03). Adjusted linear regression models, showed that COVID-19 was associated with higher BCSB learning (p= 0.017) and delayed recall (p=0.028). Female, higher age, lower functional capacity and hospitalization were associated with worse cognitive performance (p<0.05). No impact of mental health indicators on past COVID-19 infection was noted. Discussion COVID-19 was prevalent among urban Indigenous Brazilians. Unexpectedly, it was linked to enhanced learning and memory, not mental health issues. Cognitive performance was lower for males, older individuals, those with less functional ability, and hospitalized patients, indicating that participant characteristics and disease severity affect the COVID-19 and cognition relationship. Longitudinal studies across diverse Indigenous communities are necessary to understand COVID-19's impact on their cognitive and mental health.