COVID-19 and Brain Damage – What We Know So Far - mHospital

COVID-19 and Brain Damage – What We Know So Far

Data collected from post-Covid situations of patients indicates significant relation between Covid-19 and brain damage. It is recommended to delay vaccination if experiencing symptoms of Covid-19 or PASC.

Covid-19 and brain damage

We have learned much about the effects of coronavirus Covid-19. However, there is so much more that we are still in the process of learning. Majority of people have symptoms related to the lungs/pulmonary issues. As facts are being studied, over a third of hospitalized patients have neurological symptoms, often worse with preexisting medical conditions. Thus, researchers suspect a substantial relationship between Covid-19 and brain damage.

Neurologic symptoms can include:

  1. The initial symptoms of loss of smell (anosmia)
  2. Loss of taste (dysgeusia) is most common
  3. Headaches
  4. Confusion, difficulty focusing, change in behavior
  5. Loss of consciousness, seizures
  6. Guillain-Barre Syndrome – severe neuromuscular weakness
  7. Strokes – younger age less than 50 years old experience more often
  8. Delirium, psychosis, Parkinsonism is widespread among older age groups

Also Read: Covid-19 VARIANTS and MUTATION

Several reasons are suspected to cause these effects of the virus:

  1. Direct infection – through the nose which connects to the brain
  2. Immune system overdrive which causes inflammatory response (cytokine storm)
  3. Multi-organ failure which causes brain to be affected
  4. Blood clotting disruption which leads to stroke
  5. Anoxia – depressed oxygen supply to the brain from infected lungs and affected heart

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We have seen younger patients with stroke, and older patients’ tendency to have issues with confusion.

Post-Acute Sequelae of Covid (PASC) has been recently termed to describe that some of the effects of COVID-19 may be long term. These symptoms can be neurological such as brain fog, difficulty concentrating and headaches. The other symptoms can also include muscle fatigue, shortness of breath, and cardiac symptoms.

If symptoms persist or newly appear, evaluation by a medical professional is prudent.

Post viral symptoms are not uncommon and should be evaluated. Data collected from post-Covid situations of patients indicates significant relation between Covid-19 and brain damage. It is recommended to delay vaccination if experiencing symptoms of Covid-19 or PASC. Seek professional advice if in doubt. Thus far side effects of the vaccine affecting brain, spinal cord or nerves have not been documented.