Protective Effect of COVID-19 Vaccination on Post-Infection Visuospatial Deficits

Background: COVID-19 has been associated with persistent cognitive deficits months after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Vaccination against COVID-19 has demonstrated a significant advancement in the fight against the virus, reducing the number of severe infections and hospitalizations. However, the impact of vaccination on cognition after infection is still poorly understood. This study aims to evaluate the effect of COVID-19 vaccination on mitigating post-infection cognitive deficits using neuropsychological assessment measures. Methods: The study included 237 participants with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 and 105 control participants. Participants in the clinical group were divided into two groups according to their vaccination status during infection: vaccinated (n=87) and unvaccinated (n=150). The neuropsychological assessment consisted of the Verbal Fluency Test (Animals, Fruits, and Alternating), Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test (Copy, Immediate and Delayed Memory), Logical Memory Test (Immediate and Delayed), Digit Span Test (Forward and Backward), Trail Making Test A and B, and Five-Point Test. For the statistical analysis, the Aligned Rank Transform (ART) ANOVA was used, followed by the Holm post-hoc test for multiple comparisons between groups, controlling the effect of education. Results: Participants in the control group performed better on the Rey Complex Figure Test (Copy, Immediate and Delayed Memory) than those in the unvaccinated (p < 0.001, d = 7,81) and vaccinated groups (p < 0.001, d = 3.60). However, the vaccinated group outperformed the unvaccinated group (p = 0.022, d = -1.63). No statistically significant differences were observed across the different vaccine technologies administered. Conclusion: The findings suggest that COVID-19 vaccination may mitigate post-infection visuospatial deficits, reinforcing the importance of immunization in preventing cognitive sequelae associated with the disease.