SARS-CoV-2 Infection Leads to Neurological Dysfunction
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A number of neurological disease complications have been seen following infection with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). While most person with COVID-19 respiratory disease demonstrate headache, nausea and vomiting, up to 40% present also experience dizziness, confusion, cerebrovascular disease, muscle pain, ataxia and seizures. Loss of taste and smell, defects in visual acuity and pain occur in parallel. Such central nervous system (CNS) signs and symptoms linked to laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection is often life threatening.
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Increasing data has now provided evidence that SARS-C0V-2 is both neurotropic and neurovirulent. The virus invades the CNS soon after infection and gains access into the CSF and to brain subregions that include the brain stem and cortex. After crossing the blood-brain barrier (BBB) virus can replicate in microglia and neurons with collateral damage to the barrier. An inflammatory cascade is set into motion that includes ongoing collateral damage and secondary seizures, delirium and stroke.
This study was just released, and has probably not been peer-reviewed.Quote:
It is possible that both respiratory and neural failures are linked to brain stem damage and as such both direct infection and indirect inflammatory mechanisms are likely both operative.
