Cerebral and systemic physiological effects of wearing face masks in young adults

The COVID-19 pandemic led to widespread mandates requiring the wearing of face masks, which led to debates on their benefits and possible adverse effects. To that end, the physiological effects at the systemic and at the brain level are of interest. We have investigated the effect of commonly availa...

ver descrição completa

Detalhes bibliográficos
Autores: Fischer, J. B., Frisk, L. K., Scholkmann, F., Delgado Mederos, Raquel|||0000-0003-3737-7226, Mayos, Merce|||0000-0003-3972-3671, Durduran, T.
Formato: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2021
País:España
Recursos:Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Repositorio:Dipòsit Digital de Documents de la UAB
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:ddd.uab.cat:264739
Acesso em linha:https://ddd.uab.cat/record/264739
https://dx.doi.org/urn:doi:10.1073/pnas.2109111118
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palavra-chave:Face masks
Cerebral hemodynamics
Systemic physiology
COVID-19
Near-infrared spectroscopy
Descrição
Resumo:The COVID-19 pandemic led to widespread mandates requiring the wearing of face masks, which led to debates on their benefits and possible adverse effects. To that end, the physiological effects at the systemic and at the brain level are of interest. We have investigated the effect of commonly available face masks (FFP2 and surgical) on cerebral hemodynamics and oxygenation, particularly microvascular cerebral blood flow (CBF) and blood/tissue oxygen saturation (StO), measured by transcranial hybrid near-infrared spectroscopies and on systemic physiology in 13 healthy adults (ages: 23 to 33 y). The results indicate small but significant changes in cerebral hemodynamics while wearing a mask. However, these changes are comparable to those of daily life activities. This platform and the protocol provides the basis for large or targeted studies of the effects of mask wearing in different populations and while performing critical tasks.