ABSTRACT
There is an increasing recognition of neurological manifestations from SARS-CoV-2 infection. Quantifications of such manifestations and their long-term dynamics in the general infected population are of essence in understanding the health and socioeconomic burden of neurological complications of COVID-19. Through rigorous empirical testing of over 800 volunteers, we present here repeated cross-sectional and longitudinal data that depict the trajectories of chemosensory functions, cognitive performances and depressive symptoms up to 1.5 years after acute COVID-19 in discharged patients with respect to non-infected controls. Overall, deficits in smell, taste and chemesthesis slowly resolved within about a year of discharge. Concerningly, cognitive impairments –– independent of elevated depressive symptoms and evident even in those with nonsevere disease –– showed no sign of improvement over time. In people over 50 years, COVID-19 was associated with a substantially increased risk for mild cognitive impairment. Our findings urge for cognitive and emotional interventions targeting COVID-19 convalescents.