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Review
. 2021 Jun;42(6):2273-2281.
doi: 10.1007/s10072-021-05231-0. Epub 2021 Apr 12.

Cognitive and behavioral manifestations in SARS-CoV-2 infection: not specific or distinctive features?

Andrea Stracciari  1   2 , Gabriella Bottini  3   4 , Maria Guarino  5 , Eugenio Magni  6 , Leonardo Pantoni  7 ; “Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology” Study Group of the Italian Neurological Society
Affiliations
Review

Cognitive and behavioral manifestations in SARS-CoV-2 infection: not specific or distinctive features?

Andrea Stracciari et al. Neurol Sci. 2021 Jun.

Abstract

Patients with COVID-19 are increasingly reported to suffer from a wide range of neurological complications, affecting both the central and peripheral nervous system. Among central manifestations, cognitive and behavioral symptoms are to date not exhaustively detailed. Furthermore, it is not clear whether these represent a combination of non-specific complications of a severe systemic disease, not differing from those usually seen in patients suffering from heterogenous pathological conditions affecting the central nervous system, or instead, they are a peculiar expression of COVID-19 neurotropism; in other words, if the infection has a coincidental or causal role in such patients. We examined both hypotheses, reporting opposite points of view, with the aim to stimulate discussion and raise awareness of the topic.

Keywords: Behavioral manifestations; COVID-19; Cognitive disorders; Encephalopathy; Neurological complications.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

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