Neuropsychiatric Disorders and COVID-19: What We Know So Far

• Main Authors: Fernanda Majolo, Guilherme Liberato da Silva, Lucas Vieira, Cetin Anli, Luís Fernando Saraiva Macedo Timmers, Stefan Laufer, Márcia Inês Goettert
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-09-01
• Series: Pharmaceuticals
• Subjects: angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2); central nervous system; SARS-CoV-2
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/14/9/933

SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2) affects the central nervous system (CNS), which is shown in a significant number of patients with neurological events. In this study, an updated literature review was carried out regarding neurological disorders in COVID-19. Neurological symptoms are more common in patients with severe infection according to their respiratory status and divided into three categories: (1) CNS manifestations; (2) cranial and peripheral nervous system manifestations; and (3) skeletal muscle injury manifestations. Patients with pre-existing cerebrovascular disease are at a higher risk of admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) and mortality. The neurological manifestations associated with COVID-19 are of great importance, but when life-threatening abnormal vital signs occur in severely ill COVID-19 patients, neurological problems are usually not considered. It is crucial to search for new treatments for brain damage, as well as for alternative therapies that recover the damaged brain and reduce the inflammatory response and its consequences for other organs. In addition, there is a need to diagnose these manifestations as early as possible to limit long-term consequences. Therefore, much research is needed to explain the involvement of SARS-CoV-2 causing these neurological symptoms because scientists know zero about it.