Conclusions
The critical finding of our study is the high EC levels and negative correlation between EC levels and left ENT volumes in recovered COVID-19 patients. Implications: It is possible that ECs are potential neuromodulators in many conditions leading to olfactory disorders, including COVID-19.
Methods
Brain magnetic resonance images of recovered COVID-19 patients and healthy volunteers, whose olfactory and gustatory scores were obtained through a questionnaire, were taken, and the volumes of the brain regions associated with taste and smell were measured by automatic and semiautomatic methods. Endocannabinoids (EC), which are critical in the olfactory system, and vitamin B12, zinc, iron, ferritin, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and thyroxine (T4) levels, which are reported to have possible roles in olfactory disorders, were measured in peripheral blood.
Results
Taste and smell disorder scores and EC levels were found to be higher in recovered COVID-19 patients compared to controls. EC levels were negatively correlated with bilateral entorhinal cortex (ENT) volumes in the COVID-19 group. Subgenual anterior cingulate cortex volumes showed correlations with gustatory complaints and ferritin in recovered COVID-19 patients. Conclusions: The critical finding of our study is the high EC levels and negative correlation between EC levels and left ENT volumes in recovered COVID-19 patients. Implications: It is possible that ECs are potential neuromodulators in many conditions leading to olfactory disorders, including COVID-19.