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. 2020 Aug 21:11:860.
doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00860. eCollection 2020.

COVID-19 Neurological Manifestations and Underlying Mechanisms: A Scoping Review

Angela Wenting  1 , Angélique Gruters  1   2 , Yindee van Os  3 , Sonja Verstraeten  4 , Susanne Valentijn  1 , Rudolf Ponds  5 , Marjolein de Vugt  2   5
Affiliations

COVID-19 Neurological Manifestations and Underlying Mechanisms: A Scoping Review

Angela Wenting et al. Front Psychiatry. .

Abstract

Background: In the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the primary problem is respiratory-related, but there also is increasing evidence of central nervous system (CNS) involvement. This study aims to summarize the literature on neurological manifestations of COVID-19, underlying mechanisms of CNS involvement and cognitive consequences.

Methods: A scoping review was conducted with multiple searches in PubMed, PsycInfo, and CINAHL databases. Full text articles in English were included if they involved humans with COVID-19. The search was updated twice, the latest on 19 May 2020.

Results: After screening 266 records and cross referencing, 85 articles were included. The articles were case studies, opinion papers, letters to editors, and a few observational studies. No articles were found regarding cognitive consequences in COVID-19 patients. All reported on neurological manifestations and/or underlying mechanisms of CNS involvement in COVID-19.

Conclusion: Neurological manifestations of COVID-19 vary from mild (e.g. loss of taste and smell, dizziness, headache) to severe (e.g. ischemic stroke, encephalitis). Underlying pathways are suggested to be both indirect (as a result of thrombotic complication, inflammatory consequences, hypoxia, blood pressure dysregulation), and direct (neurotropic properties of the virus). Since most articles were opinion papers and no studies have been conducted on cognitive consequences, further research is warranted.

Keywords: Corona Virus Disease 2019; cognitive; neurological; neurotropic; scoping review.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flowchart article selection procedure.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Neurological manifestations of COVID-19 and possible underlying mechanisms.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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