The Circadian Clock, the Brain, and COVID-19: The Cases of Olfaction and the Timing of Sleep

• Published in: Journal of Biological Rhythms Vol. 36; no. 5; pp. 423 - 431
• Main Authors: Herz, Rachel S., Herzog, Erik D., Merrow, Martha, Noya, Sara B.
• Format: Book Review Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01-10-2021; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Biological clocks; Brain; Circadian rhythm; Circadian rhythms; Cognitive ability; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Health risks; Ischemia; Neurophysiology; Olfaction; Olfactory thresholds; Review; Sleep; Sleep and wakefulness; Smell; Wakefulness; COVID-19; sleep; olfaction; circadian; neurological
• ISSN: 0748-7304; 1552-4531
• DOI: 10.1177/07487304211031206

Daily rhythms of behavior and neurophysiology are integral to the circadian clocks of all animals. Examples of circadian clock regulation in the human brain include daily rhythms in sleep-wake, cognitive function, olfactory sensitivity, and risk for ischemic stroke, all of which overlap with symptoms displayed by many COVID-19 patients. Motivated by the relatively unexplored, yet pervasive, overlap between circadian functions and COVID-19 neurological symptoms, this perspective piece uses daily variations in the sense of smell and the timing of sleep and wakefulness as illustrative examples. We propose that time-stamping clinical data and testing may expand and refine diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19.