Tu194 - Brain Fog in Infection-associated Chronic Illnesses: Novel Insights from Neurocognitive and Molecular Profiling of the MAESTRO Clinical Study

Abstract Text: There is a complex interplay between the host's immune system and pathogens, particularly in the context of Infection-Associated Chronic Illnesses (IACI). These conditions, including those following Lyme disease and COVID-19, represent a growing public health concern with limited diagnostic and therapeutic options. Our clinical study, MAESTRO, employs a comprehensive approach to profile these catastrophic responses in individuals with IACI from Lyme or COVID by conducting neurological assessments, including eye movement tracking, neurocognitive function testing, and hypermobility assessments, incorporated with survey data and deep biological sample (including urine, sweat, saliva, blood, vaginal and rectal swabs) profiling for pathogen loads, dysbiosis, genomics, metabolomics and innovative immune trajectory mapping.

The most debilitating and least understood symptom people report in IACI is “brain fog.” Objective measurement and data to support neurocognitive dysfunction are currently lacking. By employing commercially available FDA-cleared devices, such as EEG (Electroencephalogram) and P300 ERP (Event Related Potential) tests through WAVi and eye tracking through RightEye, we are capturing objective measurements of brain function.

We have found significant differences in multiple neurocognitive measurements that are unique to IACI. These measurements are being compared to the molecular profiling of the biological samples to identify potential biomarkers associated with brain fog. Our preliminary findings suggest that neuroinflammatory features are significantly correlated with neurocognitive measurements. The use of commercially available tools to measure neurocognitive function has the potential to tremendously improve clinical care for individuals with IACI by providing a more objective and quantitative assessment of poorly understood symptoms such as brain fog.