German scientists published an article in the journal Nature Neuroscience, in which they talked about the results of a study revealing the mechanism of penetration of the SARS-CoV-2 virus into the brain.
To date, it has been known that the new coronavirus, in addition to affecting the lungs, is capable of affecting the cardiovascular system, the gastrointestinal tract, and the central nervous system. Every third patient with COVID-19 has neuropathic symptoms – loss of smell and taste, headaches, fatigue, dizziness, nausea.
However, in some patients, the disease is accompanied by strokes or other serious illnesses. It turned out that this is due to the ability of the coronavirus to penetrate into the human brain.
For the study, tissue samples were taken from 33 patients who died from coronavirus in the Charité clinics and the University Medical Center Göttingen. The latest technology has helped detect coronavirus from neuroanatomical structures connecting the eyes, mouth and nose to the brain stem. Also, for the first time, an image of a coronavirus penetrating the olfactory mucosa was obtained. It is this shell that the virus uses as an entrance to the brain.
Scientists say that herpes simplex virus and rabies virus enter the brain in a similar way.
– .
