When investigating Covid-19 patients, British researchers found that even those with mild symptoms could suffer serious brain damage. According to researchers from University College London, consequential damage, including nerve damage, feverishness and strokes, is occurring more frequently than previously suspected. That could also lead to death. Damage was also found in those who were already considered to be recovering, according to the medical journal “BrainPublished study.
Brain inflammation and nerve damage more common than expected
“We identified more patients with neurological damage, such as inflammation in the brain, than we thought,” said Michael Zandi from the research team. 43 people who had Covid-19 or suspected of being infected took part in the study. The result: Twelve of the subjects had brain inflammation, ten had a temporary brain dysfunction and eight had nerve damage. Not every finding was preceded by a severe Covid 19 disease – brain damage is therefore also possible after a rather mild course of the disease. “We have never seen the way Covid-19 attacks the brain with other viruses before,” said Zandi.
Even if the study found brain complications in many of the corona patients, the researchers do not necessarily believe that brain damage is widespread in Covid-19. The long-term damage of the novel lung disease is not yet fully known. Nevertheless, doctors should be aware of the risk of brain damage, Ross Paterson of the London research team emphasizes: “Doctors have to be aware of possible neurological damage, as early diagnosis can improve the course of the disease,” he advises.
Coronavirus timeline
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The beginning of the devastating corona virus was probably an animal market in Wuhan / China. The virus reached Europe in just a few weeks. © Ben Kendal, Saskia Bücker / RND
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Studies show that corona patients also suffer from psychosis and delirium
Doctors at Southampton University Hospital have evaluated reports of coronavirus neurological complications reported to UK neurologists and psychiatrist associations. 153 reports primarily reported consequences such as strokes, delirium or first-time psychoses, as the experts in the specialist journal “The Lancet” informed. Sixty-six Covid-19 patients had a stroke, 39 had changes in consciousness, and another ten had psychosis.
Researchers at the University of Liverpool come to similar results: 23 out of 125 patients with a severe course of the disease had complications such as altered mental states and confusion. Psychoses, dementia-like conditions and perceptual disorders were also diagnosed. Age did not matter: both younger and older patients were affected.
Covid-19: Neurological damage is not an isolated case
Covid-19, triggered by the Sars-CoV-2 coronavirus, is therefore more than just conventional pneumonia. This has been observed by doctors since the pandemic started and with more patients in intensive care units. The virus affects several organs massively, in addition to the lungs also the heart, the kidneys and other vessels. Neurological damage has also been observed several times, as numerous studies show. One in the journal “Annals of NeurologyPublished US study shows that half of all corona patients in the hospital experience neurological symptoms such as dizziness, seizures, and loss of smell and taste.
“It is important for the general public and doctors to be aware of this, as a Sars-CoV-2 infection can initially have neurological symptoms before fever, cough or breathing problems occur,” says lead study author Igor Koralnik. He is a professor of neurology at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University. One explanation for the neurological dysfunction is that the Covid-19 affects various organs such as the lungs, kidneys and heart. The brain could also suffer from a lack of oxygen or coagulation disorders. According to the study, the virus can also cause direct infection of the brain and meninges.
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