Neurological effects of COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV2 virus represents a major challenge for patients, healthcare systems and economy worldwide. Because long-term health-related effects of COVID-19 are presently unknown, understanding disease mechanisms is of pivotal importance. Beyond acute neurological effects, patients who have recovered from the disease often present with long-lasting post-COVID neurological symptoms, which markedly impair quality of life. Our results, obtained by detailed neuropathological examination of patients who died of COVID-19 demonstrated heterogeneous inflammatory changes in several brain areas, which are likely to contribute to the development of complex, acute and chronic neurological symptoms. Our research program aims to study inflammation-related neuronal, vascular and glial mechanisms in post-mortem tissues by using the latest molecular anatomy and biochemical tools available, and their correlations with a broad range of inflammatory mediators. In line with these studies, we set out to understand the mechanisms of post-COVID neurological symptoms and their relationship with central and systemic inflammation by using a complex workout including neuropsychological and cognitive evaluation, structural and functional MRI, resting-state and sleep-EEG, as well as autonomic neurophysiological studies in line with the assessment of circulating inflammatory biomarkers. Results from these studies are likely to support the understanding of complex disease mechanisms in COVID-19 and aid more effective diagnosis and treatment of patients, in addition to the expected major scientific discoveries.