Covid-19: A Global Threat to the Nervous System

Direct excerpt:

Koralnik, I.J. and Tyler, K.L. (2020), COVID ‐19: A Global Threat to the Nervous System. Ann Neurol, 88: 1-11. doi:10.1002/ana.25807

ABSTRACT: In less than 6 months, the severe acute respiratory syndrome‐coronavirus type 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) has spread worldwide infecting nearly 6 million people and killing over 350,000. 

Initially thought to be restricted to the respiratory system, we now understand that coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) also involves multiple other organs, including the central and peripheral nervous system. 

The number of recognized neurologic manifestations of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection is rapidly accumulating. These may result from a variety of mechanisms, including virus‐induced hyperinflammatory and hypercoagulable states, direct virus infection of the central nervous system (CNS), and postinfectious immune mediated processes. 

Example of COVID‐19 CNS disease include encephalopathy, encephalitis, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, meningitis, ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, venous sinus thrombosis, and endothelialitis. In the peripheral nervous system, COVID‐19 is associated with dysfunction of smell and taste, muscle injury, the Guillain‐Barre syndrome, and its variants. 

Due to its worldwide distribution and multifactorial pathogenic mechanisms, COVID‐19 poses a global threat to the entire nervous system. Although our understanding of SARS‐CoV‐2 neuropathogenesis is still incomplete and our knowledge is evolving rapidly, we hope that this review will provide a useful framework and help neurologists in understanding the many neurologic facets....

Covid-19 is the unexpected crisis that is crowning the triple-crown of the 2007-2008 financial crisis, the 2010 BP oil spill, and the 2011 Fukushima disaster.

Each of these disasters wrecked social, economic and ecological lives and livelihoods.

Now we are vulnerable and exposed to the crowning, novel coronavirus crisis: SARS-CoV-2.

Existing infrastructural vulnerabilities - such as the hurricanes ripping up the southeast US - are going to be amplified as congregated workers get sick.

Seat belt on.