Wu Y, Xu X, Chen Z, et al. Nervous system involvement after infection with COVID-19 and other coronaviruses. Brain Behav Immun. 2020;87:18-22. doi:10.1016/j.bbi.2020.03.031

Stanford University

- Nervous system involvement after infection with COVID-19 and other coronaviruses
- Pathophysiology of the COVID-19 – entry to the CNS through the nose

Brain, Behavior, and Immunity Papers Related to COVID-19 Patient Comorbidities

Nervous system involvement after infection with COVID-19 and other coronaviruses

- Anosmia has been recognized as early symptoms of COVID-19 in most patients.
     - may indicate that SARS-CoV-2 has a high affinity for olfactory epithelium and 
       can utilize the olfactory nerve to enter the CNS.
          - based on the fact that the Influenza virus and other SARS viruses utilize 
             this short-cut to enter the brain. 
          - early CNS symptoms include headaches, nausea, and vomiting in patients 
               - this further points to the idea that COVID is confined to the 
                  respiratory system and the CNS.
- SARS-CoV has been observed in animal brain tissue that has been infected with heavy viral load.
- Viral invasion to CNS:
     - Prior research has shown that the olfactory nerve is a shortcut for SARS-CoV-2 
        and that there are specific SARS-CoV-2, ACE2, receptors that are abundant in 
        the brain, which helps bind viral particles.
     - Extensive neuronal infections have been reported as the main cause of death in 
        some patients when they had a minor lung infection.


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