Considering the COVID-19 pandemic and the widespread effect of the infection on different organs and systems, new evidence is adding up to the potential influence of COVID-19 effects on emergence of symptoms related to the nervous system and the brain, either in acute or chronic form. Among the numerous diseases of the nervous system which can be related to CoV infections are: viral encephalitis, infectious toxic encephalopathy, acute cerebrovascular disease and even cases of ischemic strokes resulted from deficits in blood circulation and vessel structure.
Loss of taste and deficits related to olfaction have also been reported which may emphasize the role of underlying loss or dysfunction of sensory processing.
Apparently, only known details are related to the ACE2 mechanism, almost similar to other organs like the lung tissue.
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What do you think? Are you recently involved in a relevant research? Or have you even experienced the symptoms yourself?
Are there any other interesting and documented updates regarding the effects of COVID-19 on the brain and nervous system?
Hello Dr. Sadeghi, I would like to share with you the following case report that we have published a few days ago. Article COVID-19-Associated Encephalitis Mimicking Glial Tumor
Our patient presented with seizures and headache. Imaging was suggestive of glial neoplasm. As multiple attempts of anti-epileptic medication failed to control her progressing epilepsy, surgical intervention was inevitable. Histopathology revealed encephalitis. Post-operatively, she tested positive for COVID-19. Therefore, we should be aware that COVID-19 may in rare cases present with severe neurologic manifestations even in the absence of respiratory symptoms.
COVID-19 Neurological Effects: Does Virus Directly Attack the Brain
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/931658
Hi Ibrahim E. Efe ,
Interesting case report! Thanks for sharing.
Did she also have any underlying medical conditions? Any history of prior seizures or neuroinflammatory disorders?
Hi Donna Lisi ,
The paper published in JAMA is really interesting. Thanks for sharing it.
It is comprehensive and fascinating in a way that it includes all neurotropic coronavirus diseases other than COVID-19 neural manifestations.
The most interesting part is the neuroinvasion mechanisms including transsynaptic transfer, entry via the olfactory nerve!, infection of vascular endothelium, or leukocyte migration across the blood-brain barrier.
I invite Ibrahim E. Efe to also read this paper which includes discussion on manifestation of neurological symptoms such as seizures and encephalitis.
Thank you, Bahman Sadeghi!
She had no pre-existing conditions and no history of seizures or other severe neurologic symptoms.
Some researchers have shown encephalitis and dysexecutive syndromes in COVID_19 patients. CDC has added anosmia (loss of smell) and loss of taste in official list. In mild condition, anosmia will occur just because of virus stays longer in nasal cavity. A neuroscientist, Sandeep Robert Data have described that occurrence of loss of smell just because of in the disruption of odour detecting cells known as olfactory neurons. Like, Virus causes to ion imbalances in olfactory neurons and also inflammation as well.
Thanks Sana Arshad ,
Interesting! Would you please share the data or research that you have mentioned about anosmia, in particular the part about ion imbalances?
Bahman Sadeghi sure!
Actually I just discussed it with doctor and read out some articles like this;
Loss of Smell, Confusion, Strokes: Does COVID-19 Target the Nervous System?
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