High likeliness of COVID-19 damaging the brain, claim scientists

The advent of COVID-19 has turned out to be one of worst disasters the world has seen in recent times. In an attempt to thwart its spread, myriad efforts are being undertaken, along the likes of social distancing, nationwide lockdowns, vaccine research, etc. Fighting in the midst of a critical situation, against a virus about which very little is known to mankind, new information has been emerging by the day, regarding how the coronavirus will thrive, how it can be destroyed, what organs it can impact, and what other effects it can have on the human body. Recently, a group of scientists have found that COVID-19 can lead to critical neurological complications including psychosis, inflammation, and delirium.

A study conducted by scientists at UCL (University College London) studied 43 cases of COVID-19 patients who suffered short-term brain dysfunction, nerve damage, strokes, or other critical brain effects. The patients varied in age from 16 to 85 and demonstrated a range of mild to severe symptoms. The scientists also conclude that COVID-19 can damage the brain.

The findings of the study showed that 10 patients demonstrated momentary brain dysfunction and delirium, 12 cases showed brain inflammation, 8 cases showed strokes, and 8 demonstrated nerve damage. One COVID-19 patient hallucinated about money and lions in her house. Other patients reported double vision, disorientation, and numbness in their limbs or face. Another patient, a severe case, was hardly conscious, responding only in pain.

Sources cite that nine COVID-19 patients who had brain inflammation were detected with ADEM (Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis) which is more typically seen in children and can be triggered by viral infections. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the researchers in London would record about one ADEM patient monthly. During the evaluation period, the number of cases rose to minimum one a week.

Researchers across the world are still trying to figure out why COVID-19 patients developing these symptoms. SARC-Cov-2 was not detected in their brain fluid meaning the virus does not directly attack the brain. However, some theories also suggest that these complications are indirectly an immune response from the patient’s body, not from the virus itself.   

For the record, COVID-19 has infected over 12 million people while over half million people lost their lives because of the disease.

Force Credit - https://edition.cnn.com/2020/07/08/health/coronavirus-brain-damage-study-intl-hnk-scli-scn/index.html