Within months of the pandemic, coronavirus was defined by a variety of symptoms including loss of smell, fatigue, fever, and respiratory symptoms. At first, there were only rare cases of neurological symptoms such as drunk-like behavior, nerve damage, and short-term memory loss. A recent study from the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine determined that nearly 80% of coronavirus patients had neurological symptoms.
The study was recently published in the journal Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology. The researchers analyzed neurological manifestations and the risk factors associated with coronavirus.
During the study, 509 consecutive Covid-19 patients in Chicago, Illinois were assessed for neurological manifestations such as encephalopathy. These patients were compared to those that did not have neurological symptoms.
Covid-19 was first designated as a respiratory virus similar to SARS and MERS. As millions became hospitalized around the world, the virus affected multiple organs and the nervous system.
Results showed that the most frequent neurologic manifestation was myalgias (muscle ache), headaches, and encephalopathy. Rare manifestations included stroke, seizures, and ataxia (drunk-like behavior).
Neurological Illnesses Linked to Covid-19
In June, a study in the Journal of Clinical Neuromuscular Disease reported the case of a 54-year old man who tested positive for coronavirus was later diagnosed with Guillain-Barre Syndrome.
The rare disorder is the result of the immune system attacking the nerves. The delay of neural signals develops into paralysis. The illness had also been previously associated with SARS and MERS. By June, nearly 10 cases of Guillain-Barre Syndrome were reported from China, Italy, and Spain.
In July, another study led by University College London presented neurological and neuropsychiatric conditions associated with coronavirus. Major categories discovered included encephalopathies, psychosis/delirium, inflammatory central nervous system syndromes, and myelitis or inflammation of the spinal cord.
Encephalopathy from the various studies affected memory, cognitive abilities, changes in personality, and the ability to concentrate. The researchers determined that SARS-CoV-2 infected the neuraxis or the axis of the central nervous system.
Possible Epidemic of Brain Damage
Adrian Owen, a neuroscientist from Western University, Canada, said that the studies have implications for the millions of people infected with the coronavirus. There is still a lot of research needed to determine the possible cognitive deficits of those that have recovered and are still recovering. Furthermore, neurological conditions may be one of the long-term symptoms in long-haulers or those that had mild cases of coronavirus but had been sick for weeks up to several months.
Dr. Michael Zandi from UCL said that neurological damage associated with coronavirus is similar to the encephalitis lethargica outbreak associated with the influenza pandemic in 1918. Biomarker studies are especially critical to help determine how coronavirus triggers the central nervous system and for the development of necessary treatment.
Dr. Zandi said that the millions that may suffer neurological symptoms from the virus will have their daily activities and ability to work affected. Moreover, it is yet to determine if coronavirus will cause an epidemic of serious brain damage.
Check out more news and information on Coronavirus on Science Times.
