How COVID-19 can affect the brain?

 How will Corona 19 affect the brain?

New evidence suggests that the corona virus could harm other organs besides the lungs. Some neurologists have explained how the virus affects the brain.

How will Corona 19 affect the brain?

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How will Corona 19 affect the brain? Currently, finding an answer to this question is one of the new interests of doctors and scientists. There is already evidence that Corona 19 affects the kidneys and heart, so there is a story that this virus is a multi system disease.

This is a big difference compared to other viral pathologist such as influenza. These diseases only cause respiratory symptoms and, at best, fever.

However, research into the corona virus points to the ACE2 cell receptor that enters other cells in the body. The ACE2 receptor, which will be described in this article, exists in many places in our body, and Corona 19 affects the brain by using this protein.

It is worth emphasizing the fact that well-known and normal symptoms such as fever, cough, fatigue and shortness of breath remain the same. However, more and more people show secondary signs that help detect infections early and free up time. We have already dealt with vision problems and loss of smell.

But we also need to add new research on neurological factors.

ACE2 receptor

Corona virus has a crown-shaped outer form, which is why its name comes from. And this crown is made up of spicules with the proteins needed to access human cells. That human receptor is the ACE2 protein.

These receptors exist in the body to interact in a system called rein-angioplasty. This hormonal and internal substance system is actively involved in blood pressure regulation. Therefore, it includes even the kidneys.

COVID-19 affects the brain as some neurons have ACE2 receptors. There is no complete confirmation of the neurotrophic or neuronal affinity by SARS-CoV-2, but there are some evidences of suspicion.

The relevance of the ACE2 receptor is very important in understanding coronavirus mortality. Other studies have shown that people with hypertensive disorders belong to a high mortality group, which can be explained by the effects of the renin-angiotensin system.

The ACE2 receptor explains the effect of COVID-19 on the brain

Coronaviruses can enter the brain through neurons' ACE2 receptors.

Symptoms of COVID-19 when it affects the brain

Loss of smell was an early symptom of corona virus, as pointed out by the World Medical Association. This symptom is said to be due to the neurological tropism of SARS-CoV-2. The name given here is loss of sense of smell, and neurologists agree that problems with neurons belonging to the olfactory system can cause this symptom.

Cases of corona virus infections with myelitis (muscle inflammation), Guillain-Barre syndrome and meningitis have also been described. All of these may also be related to the central and peripheral nervous systems.

An important risk in the effects of COVID-19 on the brain is related to the structure of the cerebrovascular system. In addition to the possible tropism of SARS-CoV-2 in neurons, there may also be damage to the inner layers of brain arteries.

We know this microscopic endothelial damage as micro vascular disease. In the worst case scenario, this can lead to bleeding and stroke in the brain.

Two pathways of brain injury

Two pathways of corona virus brain injury

Corona virus is a systemic disease and can affect organs other than the lungs.

There are two possible pathways that COVID-19 takes to affect the brain. One of them is more direct and is based on the hypothesis of neuronal tropism of the virus. The other route is indirect and is due to multiple affected organs, such as when the patient is severely shocked in the intensive care unit.

However, the direct route has not been fully proven. SARS-CoV-2 enters neurons through the ACE2 receptor in the same way as it enters the lungs and kidneys.

On the other hand, the indirect pathway is the pathway that affects the evolution of the coronavirus in the body. First we have respiratory problems, then pneumonia, failure of several organs, decreased blood flow to the brain, and consequently the death of neurons that do not get enough oxygen.

Conclusion: Will Corona 19 Affect the Brain?

Overall, we know that Corona 19 directly or indirectly affects the brain. And on the one hand, scientific research will continue to provide information and new aspects of this pandemic will be revealed.

This information is especially important for intensive care staff, who can tailor treatment based on outcome. In addition, this valuable information will add hope to the uncertainty of the global coronavirus outbreak and increase the chances of patient survival.