Brain disorders: Impact of mild SARS-CoV-2 may shrink several parts of the brain

• Published in: Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews Vol. 149; p. 105150
• Main Authors: Kumar, Puranam Revanth, Shilpa, B., Jha, Rajesh Kumar
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Ltd 01-06-2023
• Subjects: Brain; Brain shrinks; Communicable Disease Control; COVID-19; Functional connectivity; Gray matter; Humans; Neurological disorders; SARS-CoV-2; Stroke; Functional connectivity; SARS-CoV-2; Brain shrinks; Gray matter; Neurological disorders
• ISSN: 0149-7634; 1873-7528
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105150

Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a highly infectious respiratory infection discovered in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. As a result of the pandemic, several individuals have experienced life-threatening diseases, the loss of loved ones, lockdowns, isolation, an increase in unemployment, and household conflict. Moreover, COVID-19 may cause direct brain injury via encephalopathy. The long-term impacts of this virus on mental health and brain function need to be analysed by researchers in the coming years. This article aims to describe the prolonged neurological clinical consequences related to brain changes in people with mild COVID-19 infection. When compared to a control group, people those who tested positive for COVID-19 had more brain shrinkage, grey matter shrinkage, and tissue damage. The damage occurs predominantly in areas of the brain that are associated with odour, ambiguity, strokes, reduced attention, headaches, sensory abnormalities, depression, and mental abilities for few months after the first infection. Therefore, in patients after a severe clinical condition of COVID-19, a deepening of persistent neurological signs is necessary.
•This article describes the clinical consequences related to COVID-19 infection.•People those who tested positive for COVID-19 had more brain shrinkage.•The damage occurs in areas of the brain that are associated with odour, etc.•Patients after COVID-19, a deepening of persistent neurological signs is necessary.