Neuromechanisms of SARS-CoV-2: A Review

Recent studies have suggested the neuroinvasive potential of severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Notably, neuroinvasiveness might be involved in the pathophysiology of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) Some studies have demonstrated that synapse-connected routes may enable coronaviruses to access the central nervous system (CNS) However, evidence related to the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in the CNS, its direct impact on the CNS, and the contribution to symptoms suffered, remain sparse Here, we review the current literature that indicates that SARS-CoV-2 can invade the nervous system We also describe the neural circuits that are potentially affected by the virus and their possible role in the progress of COVID-19 In addition, we propose several strategies to understand, diagnose, and treat the neurological symptoms of COVID-19