Thread by @AliNouriPhD

1/📌COVID-19 neurological challenges: while respiratory problems receive most attention, nearly 10-35% survivors suffer disabling, persistent neurological symptoms. Patients w/altered mental health hospitalized 3X times longer; 2/3 unable to manage daily activities at discharge🧵

2/Underlying causes are complex. Low oxygen; metabolic irregularities. Inflammatory response in the brain—activation of microglia & cytotoxic T cells—and other signs of neuropathy have also been observed.

3/Loss of smell/taste: 40-60% of patients develop loss of smell; ~90% have alteration of smell. Many recover sense of smell, others have more severe cases, possibly permanent loss of smell. Virus invades cells in vicinity of olfactory nerve; unclear if it directly invades nerve

4/Long COVID: ~10-35% suffer persistent symptoms, mostly neurological: autonomic nervous system dysfunction, sleep disturbance, pain syndromes, dizziness, cognitive difficulties. In one series of hospitalization, 1/3 suffered memory loss post-discharge/
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