Cognitive function and physical performance in young adults who had and had not experienced the COVID-19 infection

ABSTRACT

The aim of the present study is to compare the cognitive function and physical performance of young adults who have experienced the COVID-19 infection with those who have not. Twenty-one participants who had experienced the COVID-19 infection and 21 non-COVID controls underwent a cognitive assessment (Digit Span Forward Test: DSF, and Stroop Colour and Word Test: SCWT) and physical performance test (six-minute walk test: 6MWT). The participants in the COVID-19 group tended to have lower cognitive and physical performance than those in the control group. However, the difference was not statistically significant (DSF: p = 0.59, SCWT- Word: p = 0.18, SCWT- Color: p = 0.73, SCWT-Colour – Word t: p = 0.14, and 6MWT: p = 0.54). The cognitive function and physical performance in post-COVID-19 young adults tended to be lower than non-COVID-19 participants but failed to reach statistical significance. Further studies, particularly involving large sample sizes, are required to confirm the effect of COVID-19 in young adults.

KEYWORDS:

• COVID-19
• young adult
• cognitive function
• physical performance

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Thailand Science Research and Innovation funds and the University of Phayao (Grant No. FF66-UoE009), and School of Allied Health Sciences, University of Phayao, Thailand.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Thailand Science Research and Innovation funds and the University of Phayao [FF66-UoE009].