Neurological impairments in COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

The growing body of data implies that SARS-CoV-2 infection may affect the nervous system. We here present a short, taciturn overview of described neurological impairments related to SARS-CoV-2 infection. While it is obvious that neurological impairments can be diagnosed in a portion of COVID-19 patients, evidence of SARS-CoV-2 neurovirulence in humans is still lacking. The existing data on the incidence of neurological impairments among COVID-19 patients is highly variable, probably because they (most often) come from small, single-center retrospective studies. These data are practically published in real-time, and the question remains when larger studies will be available, given that the pandemic is continuing. We here also shortly address the other issues related to neurological disorders and COVID-19 pandemic, including the concern for people with existing chronic neurological disorders and possible long-term neurological consequences of SARS-CoV-2 infection.