Evidence mapPaperPMID 40977101Full record

ArticleBrain and behavior2025

Brain Microstructural Alterations in Children Post-COVID-19 Infection Through VBM, SBM, and Structural Covariance Network Analysis.

Rui Wang, Jing Liu, Jiayi Li, Xinmao Ma, Chuan Fu, Hui Zhang, Lekai Luo, Gang Ning, Yi Liao, Fenglin Jia and 1 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Brain and behavior, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Rui WangDepartment of Radiology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.
Jing LiuDepartment of Radiology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.
Jiayi LiDepartment of Oncology, Incaier Sichuan Friendship Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.
Xinmao MaDepartment of Radiology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.
Chuan FuDepartment of Radiology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.
Hui ZhangDepartment of Radiology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.
Lekai LuoDepartment of Radiology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.
Gang NingDepartment of Radiology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.
Yi LiaoDepartment of Radiology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.
Fenglin JiaDepartment of Radiology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.
Haibo QuDepartment of Radiology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0481-4856

Funding

the Sichuan Medical Association 2024HR130the Sichuan Provincial Department of Science and Technology 2025YFHZ0068
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundChildren represent a particularly vulnerable group to the long-term consequences of COVID-19 due to their ongoing neurodevelopment. This study aimed to identify transient and persistent structural alterations in children recovering from the infection by comparing pretreatment and posttreatment MRI scans and to evaluate differences in brain morphology and network organization relative to age- and sex-matched healthy controls.

methodsA retrospective cohort of 26 children aged 8-12 years with confirmed COVID-19 was compared to 26 healthy controls. All participants underwent high-resolution T1-weighted MRI on a 3T scanner using identical acquisition protocols. Standard VBM and SBM pipelines were applied to quantify cortical volume, thickness, and sulcal depth, followed by SCN analysis to construct correlation matrices based on gray matter metrics. Graph theoretic metrics, including clustering coefficients, eigenpath lengths, small-worldness, and global/local efficiencies, were computed under different network sparsity thresholds.

resultsCortical volume analyses revealed reductions in regions including the cingulate cortex, hippocampus, and superior temporal gyrus among children post-COVID-19, with within-group comparisons showing decreases in the left middle cingulate cortex (7.4-6.9 cm

conclusionsChildren recovering from COVID-19 may exhibit structural brain changes and network connectivity disruptions, some of which show partial resolution over time, whereas others persist. Long-term follow-up through comprehensive neuroimaging and clinical evaluation is necessary to clarify the potential impact on development.

Indexed as

BrainCOVID-19Nerve NetChildFemaleGray MatterHumansMagnetic Resonance ImagingMaleRetrospective StudiesSARS-CoV-2brain connectivitychildrenCOVID‐19neurodevelopmentstructural covariance network

Identifiers

PMID40977101
PMCPMC12451088

What Socratic holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.