Neurological Involvements of SARS-CoV2 Infection

Abstract

COVID-19 is a pandemic viral infection caused by a novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV2, which is a global concern of the twentyfirst century for its rapid spreading in a short period. Apart from its known acute respiratory involvements, the CNS manifestations of COVID-19 are common. These neurological symptoms are diverse and could range from mild nonspecific or specific symptoms such as the loss of various sensory perceptions, the worrying autoimmune Guillain-Barré syndrome, to the lifethreatening acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, and the CNS-mediated respiratory distress. An autopsy report documented the presence of SARS-CoV2 in brain tissues of a COVID-19 patient. However, there is no definite conclusion on the mechanisms of SARS-CoV2 neuroinvasion. These proposed mechanisms include the direct viral invasion, the systemic blood circulation, or the distribution of infected immune cells. Concerning these different neuropathophysiologies, COVID-19 patients who are presenting with either the early-onset, multiple, and severe CNS symptoms or rapid respiratory deterioration should be suspected for the direct viral neuroinvasion, and appropriate management options should be considered. This article reviews the neurological manifestations, the proposed neuroinvasive mechanisms, and the potential neurological sequelae of SARS-CoV2.

Diverse Immunological Factors Influencing Pathogenesis in Patients with COVID-19: A Review on Viral Dissemination, Immunotherapeutic Options to Counter Cytokine Storm and Inflammatory Responses

“…There is no definitive evidence that SARS-CoV-2 is neuropathogenic [ 217 ]. Despite many inconsistencies, research has demonstrated a connection between SARS-CoV-2 infection and neurological disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease [ 218 , 219 , 220 , 221 ]. Furthermore, a postinfectious inflammatory disease known as a multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) has emerged as a major COVID-19-related medical condition [ 222 ].…”

Case 28-2021: A 37-Year-Old Woman with Covid-19 and Suicidal Ideation

“…Her otherwise intact orientation and cognitive capacities do not suggest delirium, dementia, or another neurocognitive disorder resulting from SARS-CoV-2 infection. 12 , 13 There are no accompanying features of psychosis, such as distinct hallucinations, delusions, or thought disorder, that would suggest new development of a primary psychotic illness.…”

Combining spike- and nucleocapsid-based vaccines improves distal control of SARS-CoV-2

“…SARS-CoV-2 is a respiratory virus, but prior reports suggest that it may also disseminate to the brain via the olfactory mucosa (Cantuti-Castelvetri et al, 2020;Meinhardt et al, 2021;Song et al, 2021). Post-mortem analyses of COVID-19 patients have shown the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in the brain (Gasmi et al, 2021;Kumari et al, 2021;Meinhardt et al, 2021;Song et al, 2021).…”