COVID-19 and the brain

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Infectious Diseases
• Systemic Illness

Background:

• Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a systemic illness with significant central nervous system (CNS) involvement.
• Neurologic manifestations occur across acute, subacute, and chronic (post-acute sequelae of COVID-19, PASC) phases of infection.
• Over 20,000 articles address COVID-19 and the brain, necessitating a focused review.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an overview of common neurologic manifestations associated with COVID-19.
• To specifically focus on cerebrovascular complications of COVID-19.
• To discuss the proposed pathophysiology underlying these neurologic effects.

Main Methods:

• This is a review article, synthesizing existing literature.
• Focuses on published research regarding COVID-19 and its neurological impact.
• Emphasis on cerebrovascular complications and underlying mechanisms.

Main Results:

• COVID-19 infection frequently involves the central nervous system.
• Multiple pathophysiological mechanisms contribute to neurologic manifestations, including hypoxia, hypercoagulability, endothelial dysfunction, inflammation, and direct viral neurotropism.
• Cerebrovascular complications are a significant concern in COVID-19 patients.

Conclusions:

• COVID-19's impact on the nervous system is multifaceted and occurs throughout all disease stages.
• Understanding the pathophysiology, particularly cerebrovascular complications, is crucial for managing patients.
• Further research is needed to fully elucidate the long-term neurological consequences of SARS-CoV-2 infection.