Structural covariance of diffusion metrics in mild COVID19: Spatially coherent effect on fractional anisotropy but not free water.

The impact of COVID19 on the brain’s microstructural integrity remains unclear. In this study, we examine self-isolated COVID19 patients and controls using diffusion-tensor and free-water imaging, based on single- and multi-shell acquisitions, respectively. We identify several differences in spatial covariance among patients in fractional anisotropy (in cingulate-frontal and temporal-parietal regions), but not free water fraction. Our results indicate COVID19’s implications in long-term, measurable brain deficits.