1Cademy - Pathophysiology of the COVID-19 – entry to the CNS through the nose

Relation

Pathophysiology of the COVID-19 – entry to the CNS through the nose

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.