Neurological consequences of COVID-19

Abstract

In December 2019, cases of pneumonia caused by infection with the previously unknown severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), leading to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), were identified. Typical manifestations of COVID-19 are fever, cough, fatigue and dyspnoea. Initially, it was thought that the mechanism of action of SARS-CoV-2 was only associated with respiratory tract invasion, but it was later revealed that the infection might involve many other organs and systems, including the central and peripheral nervous systems. Neurological complications associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection include encephalopathy, encephalitis, meningitis, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke and cerebral venous sinus thrombosis. In cases of peripheral nervous system involvement, smell and taste disorders, myopathy or the signs and symptoms of Guillain‒Barré syndrome are observed. The most common early neurological complications, particularly during the first year of the epidemic, were anosmia and taste disorders, which, according to some studies, occurred in over 80 percent of patients with COVID-19. The proportion of patients with serious neurological manifestations was small compared to the global number of patients, but the numbers of SARS-CoV-2 infections and critical patients increased substantially. The experience from 2 years of the pandemic has shown that approximately 13% of infected patients suffer from severe neurological complications. The relationship between SARS-CoV-2 and the nervous system is not only a cause of neurological complications in previously healthy individuals but also directly and indirectly affects the courses of many nervous system diseases.

Introduction

Coronaviruses have been known for years as pathogens that commonly occur in humans and animals. They are responsible for approximately 10–20% of common cold and mild respiratory tract infections. At the end of 2019, a newly mutated form of coronavirus that causes severe pneumonia was identified in Wuhan, China. The disease spread rapidly, resulting in an epidemic in China and then a pandemic. In February 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) defined ‘COVID-19’ as a disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) [1]. On 11 March 2020, the WHO declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Nearly 550 million people were affected by the disease, and over 6 million people died over the next 2 years. Although the pandemic has not yet ended, it is already considered to be one of the most tragic epidemics in our history. The virus mainly attacks the respiratory system, but neurological complications following COVID-19 are common and develop in approximately 50 percent of patients [2].

Individuals with concomitant diseases (diabetes, hypertension or obesity) are at a particularly high risk of contracting the virus and suffering severe infection [3]. Genetic factors are also important. Certain patients with COVID-19 were seriously ill, while others experienced few signs or symptoms. New research has helped identify over 1000 genes related to a severe course of COVID-19. Moreover, it has been shown that severe COVID-19 is highly associated with a poor reaction of two immune cell types: natural killer (NK) cells and T lymphocytes (the ‘CD56 bright’ subtype) [4].

Due to its relationship with the nervous system, SARS-CoV-2 infection not only causes neurological complications in previously healthy individuals but also affects the courses of many nervous system diseases.

Neurological complications in COVID-19

Neurological complications in individuals with COVID-19 are common, particularly among hospitalised patients [5], who demonstrate higher rates than those with milder disease [6]. The most common neurological complications include smell and taste disorders, encephalopathy, encephalomyelitis, ischaemic stroke, intracranial haemorrhage and neuromuscular diseases [7]. The incidence of these complications is variously estimated (Table 1). Multiple mechanisms may underlie the development of neurologic manifestations of illness, including hypoxia, systemic illness, hypercoagulability, endothelial dysfunction, general critical illness, inflammatory response, and neurotropism of SARS-CoV-2. COVID-19 infection is associated with neurologic involvement in all stages; acute infection, subacute/post-infection, and growing evidence also suggests the postacute sequalae of COVID-19 during the chronic phase. The potential mechanisms of different neurological complications are shown in Table 2.

Table 1.

Prevalence of various neurological manifestations included in the systematic reviews and meta-analyses

Meta-analysis	Studies, n	Pooled sample size, n	Symptom or disease	Pooled prevalence (95%CI), %	Symptom or disease	Pooled prevalence (95%CI), %
Vitalakumar et al. [8]	240	190 785	Headache	14.6 (12.2–17.2)	Encephalitis	0.6 (0.2–1.3)
			Fatigue	33.6 (29.5–37.8)	Malaise	38.3 (24.7–52-9)
			Olfactory dysfunction	26.4 (21.8–31.3)	Confusion	14.2 (6.9–23.5)
			Gustatory dysfunction	27.2 (22.3–32.3)	Movement disorders	5.2 (1.7–10.4)
			Vomiting	6.7 (5.5–8.0)	Guillain–Barre syndrome	6.9 (2.3–13.7)
			Nausea	9.8 (8.1–11.7)	Cerebrovascular diseases	9.9 (6.8–13.4)
			Dizziness	6.7 (4.7–9.1)	Encephalopathy	23.5 (14.3–34.1)
			Myalgia	21.4 (18.8–24.1)	Sleep disorders	14.9 (1.9–36.8)
			Neuralgia	2.4 (0.8–4.7)	Seizure	4.05 (2.5–5.8)
			Arthralgia	19.9 (15.3–25.0)	Altered mental status	17.1 (12.3–22.5)
He et al. [9]	168	292 693	Myalgia	33 (30–37	Stroke	12 (8–16)
			Smell impairment	33 (28–38)	Dizziness	10 (8–13)
			Taste dysfunction	33 (27–39)	Vision impairment	6 (3–9)
			Altered mental status	32 (22–43)	Intracerebral hemorrhage	5 (3–9)
			Headache	29 (25–33)	Seizure	4 (2–5)
			Encephalopathy	26 (16–38)	Encephalitis	2 (1–3)
			Alteration of consciousness	13 (8–19)	Guillan-Barre Syndrome	1 (0–3)
Vakili et al. [10]	77	6 597	Fatigue	42.9 (36.7–49.3)	Headache	10.1 (2.7–21)
			Gustatory dysfunction	35.4 (11.2–64.4)	Dizziness	6.7 (3.7–10.5)
			Anorexia	28.9 (19.9–38.8)	Nausea	5.9 (3.1–9.5)
			Olfatory dysfunction	25.3 (1.6–63.4)
Premraj et al. [11]	18	10 530	Fatigue	37 (25–28)	Anosmia	12 (8–26)
			Brain fog	32 (10–54)	Dysguesia	10 (6–14)
			Memory issues	28 (22–35)	Headache	15 (4–26)
			Attention disorder	22 (7–36)	Anxiety	23 (14–32)
			Myalgia	17 (9–25)	Depression	17 (10–24)
			Sleep disturbances	31 (19–42)
Misra et. al. [12]	350	145 721	Fatigue	32 (30–35)	Delirium	11 (7–16)
			Myalgia	20 (18–23)	Dizziness	7 (5–8)
			Taste impairment	21 (15–29)	Alteration of consciousness	7 (5–10)
			Smell impairment	19 (13–25)	Vision impairment	4 (1–9)
			Headache	13 (12–15)	Agitation	45 (3–93)
Rogers et al. [13]	147	99 905	Anosmia	43.1 (35.2–51.3	Headache	20.7 (16.1–26.1)
			Weakness	40.0 (27.9–53.5)	Anxiety	15.9 (5.6–37.7)
			Fatigue	37.8 (31.6–44.4)	Altered mental status	8.2 (4.4–14.8)
			Dysguesia	37.2 (29.8–45.3)	Dizziness/vertgo	6.4 (4.0–10.0)
			Myalgia	25.1 (19.8–31.3)	Tinnitus	3.5 (1.7–7.4)
			Depression	23.0 (11.8–40.2)	Ischemic stroke	1.9 (1.3–2.8)
			Sleep disorder	23.5 (12.0–40.9)	Hemorrhagic stroke	0.4 (0.3–0.7)

Table 2.

COVID-19 associated neurological complications and potential pathophysiology

Clinical syndrome	Potential pathophysiology	Refs.
Parainfectious manifestations
Anosmia	Infection of olfactory epithelium or nerve	[14–16]
Ischemic stroke	Cytokine overproduction; Vascular endothelial damage, Endothelial dysfunction; Hypercoagulable state	[17–26]
Hemorrhagic stroke	Decrease in ACE2 levels; Blood pressure increase; Coagulopathy; CVST	[27–30]
Encephalopathy, encephalitis	Cytokine overproduction; Vascular endothelial damage; Direct CNS invasion; Hypoxia; Autoimmunity; Medication effects	[17, 28, 31–41]
Myalgia/rhabdomyolysis	Infection of muscle; Metabolic derangements; Medication effects	[15]
Myoclonus	Autoimmune cerebellar/brainstem damage; Hypoxia	[47]
Seizure	Fever; Hypoxia; Multiorgan failure; Metabolic derangements; Cytokine overproduction; Direct CNS invasion	[14, 32]
Headache	Hypoxia; Activation of peripheral trigeminal nerve endings; Cytokine overproduction; Direct CNS invasion; Hypercoagulable state	[44, 45]
Post-viral syndromes
Brain fog/Long Covid	Autoimmune; Neuroinflammation; Neurodegeneration	[42–47]
Guillain–Barre syndrome/polyneuropathy	Autoimmunity/Molecular mimicry	[46]
Depression, anxiety and sleep disorders	Cytokine overproduction/Neuroinflammation; Direct CNS invasion	[48–51]
Transverse myelitis	Immune cell mediated	[14–16]
Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis	T cell mediated	[15, 16]

ACE2 angiotensin-converting enzyme-2; CVST cerebral venous sinus thrombosis; CNS central nervous system

Pathophysiological aspects of neurological complications following SARS-CoV-2 infection

SARS-CoV-2 virus can penetrate the central nervous system and affect both neurons and glial cells, causing neurological complications. Neurological pathologies result from different pathomechanisms. Findings indicate that SARS-CoV-2 enters host cells after binding to angiotensin-converting enzyme type 2 (ACE2) found on the cell surface of various tissues [14–16, 20, 52, 53]. By binding to ACE2 in many organs, including skeletal muscle, vascular endothelium and the nervous system, SARS-CoV-2 can enter the central nervous system, damaging blood vessels [52, 53]. Damage to the endothelium of the cerebral vessels and an increase in cerebral blood pressure can lead to rupture of blood vessels, resulting in massive intracerebral haemorrhage [27, 52]. On the other hand, accompanying COVID-19 infection, hypercoagulability and thromboembolic conditions can cause ischaemic stroke [19].

In the brain, ACE2 is mainly expressed within the brainstem, in the region responsible for cardiac and vascular function, which includes the nucleus of the solitary tract and the paraventricular nuclei [16, 20, 22].

A route of spread of infection from peripheral nerves to the central nervous system via synaptic connections has also been confirmed [54, 55]. Due to the particular structure of the olfactory nerve and olfactory fibres in the nasal cavity, the transport of SARS-CoV-2 along this nerve may be an example of the spread of infection via a neuronal route. Coronaviruses can colonise the nasal cavity and then penetrate the brain and cerebrospinal fluid via the olfactory nerve and bulb pathways, causing an inflammatory and demyelinating response [15, 16].

Other important gateways of brain infection may be the cervical and olfactory vessels of the lymphatic system for SARS-CoV-2 [56–58]. Post-mortem histological findings indicate that SARS-CoV-2 can damage the endothelium, causing lymphocytic inflammation in many internal organs such as the heart, kidneys, lungs, liver, small intestine and the lymphatic drainage system of the brain [56–58].

Another mechanism of damage is the generation of a global systemic inflammatory response (SIRS), resulting in excessive production of interleukin (IL-6, IL-12, IL-15) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). This activates glial cells and induces a powerful proinflammatory state of the CNS, leading to severe hypoxia, resulting in cerebral vasodilation, cerebral oedema and ischaemia [54, 55].

Nerve cell damage during SARS-CoV-2 infection is favoured by direct infection of the central nervous system via the trans-synaptic pathway, damage to the blood–brain barrier, an increased inflammatory response, and prolonged hypoxia. In patients with severe COVID-19, nervous system involvement is more specific and includes impaired consciousness, encephalitis, cerebrovascular complications and/or muscle damage.

The risk of neuropsychiatric complications of COVID-19 combined with the risk of death was highest with the delta variant (B.1.617.2). In particular, the risk of cognitive deficits, epilepsy and ischaemic stroke increased [59, 60]. These risks were compounded by an increased risk of death (HR for the composite of death or cognitive deficit was 1.38 (95% CI 1.27–1.48), while the HR for cognitive deficit alone was 1.13 (1.02–1.26) [61]. The profile of neurological and psychiatric complications during the predominance of the alpha variant (B.1.1.7) and the omicron variant (B.11.529) was broadly similar to the pandemic period caused by the delta variant [59]. There was no difference in the risk of cognitive deficits, epilepsy, ischaemic stroke, psychotic disorders and mood disorders. Despite a similar rate of neurological complications, the reduced composite risk of hospitalisation and death after the omicron variant may reflect the attenuated course of SARS-CoV-2 infection [61].

Neurological manifestations have been reported in COVID-19 cases, even in patients with only a mild form of illness, and can persist as what is called long COVID. Researchers at the Boston University School of Medicine (USA) studied 16,225 patients from 179 hospitals in 24 different countries as part of the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) VIRUS study [62]. During the first year of the pandemic, 13% of patients presenting with COVID-19 developed serious neurological signs or symptoms. The most common manifestation at admission, with 1656 cases (10.2%), was encephalopathy, which alters brain function or structure. A further 331 patients (2.0%) experienced a stroke, 243 (1.5%) had seizures, and 73 (0.5%) had meningitis or encephalitis on admission or during their stay in the hospital [62].

Smell and taste disorders

The most common neurological complications are smell and taste disorders. In one study, anosmia and taste disorders were reported as early signs of COVID-19 that affected over 80 percent of patients [63]. A meta-analysis of 83 studies with more than 27,000 subjects found that smell dysfunction affected 48% of patients (95% CI 41.2–54.5) [64]. These symptoms may be the initial COVID-19 manifestations and may appear without nasal congestion or discharge; however, they are rarely the only COVID-19 clinical symptoms. Young individuals report anosmia more commonly than older patients. It also develops more frequently in women than in men [65]. The prognosis of smell and taste disorders associated with COVID-19 is generally favourable, as most patients report overall regression or substantial improvement within 2–3 weeks. Thus, the prognosis is probably better than in the case of other smell disorder aetiologies. However, serious and long-term deficits remain in 10% to 20% of cases [7]. There are limited evidence-based methods of anosmia treatment [12]. Fortunately, smell and taste disorders resolve spontaneously in most patients with COVID-19, and they do not require specific management. Nevertheless, when smell disorders persist for a longer time (> 4 weeks), smell training techniques may be beneficial as a therapy [66].

Headache

Headache is experienced by 12–70% of patients with COVID-19. It persisted in 3.6% of the patients 1 month after the resolution of fever and difficulty breathing [67]. Various types of headaches may appear during the disease. Headaches reported in studies on COVID-19 complications include tension-type headaches and headaches resulting from systemic viral infections that cause chronic cough or hypoxia. Migraine-type headache exacerbation also occurred [68]. It is suggested that headaches appearing from the seventh day of the onset of clinical symptoms may be associated with the cytokine storm that is typical of this infection. Unfortunately, there are no available data on specific options for COVID-19-related headache treatment. While describing the cases, experts recommend routine management typical for conditions that are not related to SARS-CoV-2 infection [68].

Acute encephalopathy and encephalitis associated with COVID-19

In most cases, encephalopathy develops in critical patients. Extremely rare, encephalopathy-related delirium may be an early or even asymptomatic manifestation [69]. Delirium developed in 55% of the subjects participating in a cohort study that involved 2088 patients with COVID-19 who had been admitted to intensive care units [69]. In another study, Shah et al. identified acute encephalopathy in 1092 (8.7%) subjects among 12,601 hospitalised patients [70]. Encephalopathy was observed in 31.8% of the 509 hospitalised patients with COVID-19 participating in another study [5]. Its aetiology is frequently multifactorial. It mainly affects older male patients with a history of neurological disorders, cancer, cerebral vasculitis, chronic kidney disease, diabetes, dyslipidaemia, cardiac failure, hypertension or smoking [5].

The manifestations of encephalopathy and encephalitis include neuropsychological disorders, agitation and delirium, motor disorders with extrapyramidal symptoms, coordination disorders, impaired consciousness, seizures and focal neurological deficits [7]. IL-2, IL-6, IL-7 and TNF-α are biomarkers identified in patients with severe COVID-19 [71].

Patients with encephalopathy usually do not present signs of encephalitis in neuroimaging scans or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis, although there are some exceptions. In the case of encephalitis, CT or MRI scans may reveal structural lesions and cerebral oedema as well as haemorrhagic, necrotic, inflammatory or demyelinating lesions. Imaging scans show heterogeneous nonvascular lesions in up to 66.7% of patients [72]. CSF analysis is recommended to exclude meningitis. Electroencephalography (EEG) should be performed as part of diffuse cerebral dysfunction monitoring and to identify subclinical seizures or epilepsy. Symptomatic treatment is intended to control general homeostasis (electrolyte levels or temperature), and neuroleptics and antiepileptic drugs are administered as needed. High doses of corticosteroids may be used for impaired consciousness, acute cognitive deficits and seizures. Moreover, plasmapheresis and/or intravenous immunoglobulin therapy are suggested. In severe cases, intensive care with intubation and assisted ventilation, preventive anticoagulation therapy and continuous neuromonitoring may be required [7].

Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis

There are reports on the rising number of patients with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) [7]. Head MRI with contrast is essential for identifying inflammatory lesions. A haemorrhagic component may also appear. Normal findings from CSF analysis do not exclude a diagnosis of ADEM. For treatment, a high dosage (1–2 g/24 h) of intravenous corticosteroids for 3–5 days is recommended, followed by oral tapering. Immunoglobulins are recommended (0.4 g/kg body weight) in cases of an inadequate response to corticosteroids [7].

Stroke and cerebral venous thrombosis

Stroke seems to be relatively rare in COVID-19 [73–76]. The rates of COVID-19-related ischaemic stroke among hospitalised patients were 0.4–2.7%, while the rates of intracranial haemorrhage were 0.2–0.9% [77, 78]. Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) has been reported among COVID-19 patients [79, 80]. Twelve patients with CVT were identified within 3 months in a retrospective study of over 13,000 patients, which corresponds to an incidence of 8.8 per 10,000 patients [81]. An estimate for CVT incidence was 0.08% (95% CI 0.01–0.5) in a systematic review involving 34,331 hospitalised patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection [82]. An incidence for CVT of 0.04% was estimated in another large study of 292,080 patients with COVID-19 during the first year of the pandemic. The number of CVT-related hospitalisations and CVT-related in-hospital mortality did not change compared to the prepandemic period [83].

Stroke most commonly develops 1 to 3 weeks after the onset of COVID-19 symptoms [81, 84–86]. COVID-19 was an independent risk factor for in-hospital stroke (odds ratio [OR] 20.9; 95% CI 10.4–42.0) in a report comparing 86 patients with COVID-19 and stroke confirmed by imaging scans with 499 matched controls with a history of stroke but no COVID-19 a year prior [85].

The mean age of COVID-19 patients with stroke seems similar to that of patients without COVID-19. The median age was 65 years in a systematic analysis of 10 studies involving 160 patients with COVID-19 and ischaemic stroke. The median age at presentation was 68 years in the US national stroke registry, consisting of 1143 patients with COVID-19 and acute stroke compared to 71 years in the case of patients without COVID-19 during the same period [87].

Neuromuscular diseases

Myalgia is common in both the mild and severe forms of COVID-19. It has been observed in 22–63% of patients [7] and occurs together with increased creatinine kinase (CK) levels in more severe cases (19 vs. 5%); muscle damage (myopathy) is also possible [65]. Severe rhabdomyolysis is a rare, late complication associated with COVID-19 [88]. It was seen in 0.2% of patients, while CK level elevations were observed in 13.7%. Generalised myasthenia with positive acetylcholine receptor antibodies was found in three Italian patients 5 to 7 days after the onset of fever from SARS-CoV-2 infection [89]. Although it is speculated that the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 could be the cause of myasthenia, an alternative explanation is that the infection is only a trigger for the appearance of signs and symptoms in patients with preexisting myasthenia.

Exacerbation of a preexisting neuromuscular disease was also described in the case of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) [7]. It seems that patients with neuromuscular conditions are not at a significantly higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection [7].

Management of inflammatory/autoimmune muscular diseases, neuromuscular junction conditions and peripheral nerve disorders should follow the current guidelines. Plasmapheresis and immunoglobulin therapy are recommended. It is suggested to delay rituximab or long-term oral immunosuppressants and to rely on the patient’s clinical status and medical history [7].

Guillain‒Barré syndrome

Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS) develops in approximately 0.4% of patients with COVID-19, typically 5–10 days after the onset of viral infection [46]. The timing of its signs and symptoms in relation to the initial manifestations of COVID-19 suggests that GBS is a parainfectious disorder [90]. Some reports have demonstrated that the signs and symptoms could progress earlier and that they are more severe than those seen in typical GBS. In one study, three out of five patients required mechanical ventilation [91]. Only 5 GBS cases were identified among approximately 1200 patients with COVID-19 admitted to 3 hospitals in northern Italy within a month [46]. Most patients with COVID-19 and GBS present with progressive limb weakness that develops within 1 to 4 days [92].

There are no separate guidelines for GBS management in COVID-19. Patients should be treated similarly to other individuals with GBS.

Post-COVID-19 neurological syndrome

Post-COVID-19 syndrome (PCS) is a group of signs and symptoms that occur following SARS-CoV-2 infection and persist even for several months. The most common manifestations are associated with the respiratory (apnoea or cough) and cardiovascular systems. However, the most uncomfortable conditions are neurological and psychiatric disorders [93–95]. Patients most commonly report the following issues:

• Chronic fatigue—persistent tiredness, particularly effort-independent fatigue that does not resolve after rest and that reduces quality of life

• Cognitive dysfunction (‘brain fog’)—problems with writing, reading and calculating that are unrelated to physical disability; trouble with clearly answering questions and conveying messages; problems performing multiple tasks at a time; difficulty remembering new information or determining the current date and the day of the week

• Mood disorders—sadness, fear or anxiety

• Sleep disorders—insomnia, hypersomnia, sleep–wake disorders or nightmares

• Pain syndromes—headache, back pain, myalgia or neuropathic pain

• Smell and taste disorders

The above manifestations may persist after acute SARS-CoV-2 infection or they may appear several weeks or months after the infection and continue for a few weeks to several months or longer. Their severity may vary from mild to extremely severe and may change over time. Most patients are able to perform daily tasks, but 50% of them reported that post-COVID-19 neurological manifestations worsened daily functioning at home and at work and reduced their quality of life [93, 94].

Effects of COVID-19 on patients with neurological diseases

Multiple sclerosis

Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) are theoretically more susceptible to infections related to disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) [96, 97]. Particular DMTs pose various levels of risk according to their mechanisms of action. As a result, patients require a personalised approach when initiating new therapies and continuing treatment. This problem became very important during the COVID-19 pandemic. For drugs with various mechanisms of action regarding the immune system, the therapy’s impact on both susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 and the course of COVID-19 should be considered [98]. Based on the patient risk/benefit analysis, the following recommendations were assigned to specific therapies: (1) low-risk therapies (glatiramer acetate, interferons, dimethyl fumarate and teriflunomide)—therapy discontinuation and delayed treatment initiation are not recommended; (2) intermediate-risk therapies (fingolimod, natalizumab, ocrelizumab and cladribine)—should be used with caution and require a personalised risk/benefit assessment and an analysis of the risk of MS exacerbation after drug withdrawal; and (3) high-risk therapies (alemtuzumab, mitoxantron and haematopoietic stem cell transplantation [HSCT])—therapy initiation is not recommended, and extreme caution should be exercised for further doses (Table 3).

Table 3.

Potential impact of MS therapies on COVID-19 clinical course and stratification risk of MS treatment (adapted and modified from: Bhise and Dhib-Jalbut [98])

Medication	Potential benefit in COVID-19	Potential adverse effect in COVID-19	Risk of MS treatment	Currently receiving	New start
Interferon β	Reduced viral replication; inhibition of proinflammatory cytokines	Unknown	Lowest	Continue	Yes*
Glatiramer acetate	Counteract proinflammatory responses	Unknown	Lowest	Continue	Yes
Dimethyl fumarate	Reduced innate immune response to virus	Lymphopenia-related increased risk of infection and impaired viral clearance	Low	Continue	Yes
Teriflunomide	Anti-viral effect	Lymphopenia-related increased risk of infection and impaired viral clearance	Low	Continue	Yes
Fignolimod/siponimod/ozanimod	Lymphopenia may be beneficial for pneumonia and ARDS	Lymphopenia resulting in reduced viral clearance	Medium	Continue	Yes
Natalizumab	May interfere with SARS-CoV-2 host cell entry	Reduced SARS-CoV-2 clearance from the CNS and gut	Medium	Extend to 6-week intervals	Yes
Rituximab/okrelizumab/ofatumumab	Unknown	Increased risk of infection and impaired viral clearance	Medium–high	Extend interval based on B-cell counts	Yes
Cladribine	Unknown	Lymphopenia-related increased risk of infection and impaired viral clearance	High	Delay/switch	No**
Alemtuzumab	Unknown	Lymphopenia-related increased risk of infection and impaired viral clearance	High	Delay/switch	No
Hematopoietic stem cell therapy	Unknown	Unknown	High	Delay/switch	No

ARDS acute respiratory distress syndrome, CNS central nervous system

*Yes: treatment can be initiated

**No: postpone treatment

However, current scientific reports indicate that MS itself is not a factor that increases the probable risk of COVID-19 and that it does not increase the risk of severe disease or death compared to the general population [99, 100]. Nevertheless, it should be noted that certain patients with MS may be more susceptible to severe COVID-19 [3]: individuals with MS over the age of 60; patients with progressive MS; patients with MS and more considerable disability (EDSS score 6 or higher); MS patients with obesity, diabetes or cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases; men with MS; and patients receiving certain MS immunomodulators [100].

Anti-CD20 agents were the only DMTs that increased the risk of severe disease observed in some studies [101]. The probability of hospitalisation was higher among patients receiving ocrelizumab or rituximab than among individuals receiving other disease-modifying therapies (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.76; 95% CI 1.87–4.07) in an international cohort study of 1683 patients with MS [101]. Both ocrelizumab and rituximab were associated with a higher risk of admission to the intensive care unit, but they were not related to a higher risk of death.

In Sweden, where rituximab is the most frequent MS treatment strategy, Spelman et al. reported 292 cases of confirmed COVID-19, with the risk of hospitalisation reaching 23.2%. Therefore, rituximab-treated patients demonstrated higher hospitalisation rates compared to patients who were treated with combinations of all other DMTs (29.9 vs. 12.7%) [102]. Certain sites have attempted to modify their treatment strategies to reduce the risk of severe COVID-19. Some of them favoured other, highly effective therapies, such as natalizumab, instead of anti-CD20 treatment [103], while others successfully used prolonged anti-CD20 dosing intervals [104] and personalised ocrelizumab treatment according to B-cell CD19 levels.

Stroke

Most studies on stroke treatment during the pandemic revealed limited access to interventional treatment options (thrombolysis or thrombectomy) and a prolonged time of therapy initiation [105–107]. The global effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the frequency of intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) and stroke-related hospitalisation within the 4 months of the pandemic’s peak (1 March to 30 June 2020) were assessed in comparison to the prepandemic period in a global study that included 457 sites in 70 countries [105]. During the pandemic, 11.5% fewer admissions (95% CI − 11.7 to − 11.3; p < 0.0001) due to ischaemic stroke and 13.2% fewer cases of thrombolysis (95% CI − 13.8 to − 12.7; p < 0.0001) were observed compared to the analogous prepandemic period [105]. The rate of stroke was 1.48% among 119,967 hospitalised individuals due to COVID-19. Severe coronavirus infection was reported in 3.3% (1722 out of 52,026) of all stroke-related admissions. Most authors emphasise that the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with a global decrease in stroke-related hospitalisations and rarer thrombolytic treatment or mechanical thrombectomy [105–109].

Neurodegenerative diseases

Patients with neurodegenerative diseases (Parkinson’s disease or Alzheimer’s disease) are particularly susceptible to infection. Experts recommend strict obedience of COVID-19 preventive measures, emphasising the fact that infections–especially those with fever–may affect motor activities and exacerbate orientation disorders (including delirium). When such patients require hospitalisation, the previous treatment should be modified with caution, as suddenly discontinuing dopaminergic therapy may substantially worsen the patient’s health status. Patients in care centres are particularly susceptible. The risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection was 60% higher than that in the general population in one study of 15,043 social care centre residents with dementia [110]. Patients with Parkinson’s disease demonstrated a higher risk of severe COVID-19 in another study, and the infection was associated with higher mortality [111].

Neurological complications following COVID-19 vaccination

SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations are not free from side effects (Fig. 1). Usually, they are mild or moderate but can occasionally be severe. Two of these severe side effects are cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) and GBS.

Fig. 1.

Neurological complications following COVID-19 vaccination (Adapted and modified from Garg et al. [31]. ADEM acute disseminated encephalomyelitis; CVST cerebral venous sinus thrombosis; LETM longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis; MS multiple sclerosis; NMOSD neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders; PRES posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome; TIA transient ischemic attacks

CVST has been described after vaccination against SARS-CoV-2. The clinical characteristics of 213 postvaccination CVST cases reported to the European Medicines Agency by 8 April 2021 were published [112]. Data on adverse drug reactions after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination were obtained from the EudraVigilance database. Patients with postvaccination CVST were compared with 100 European patients with CVST from before the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, 213 CVST cases were identified: 187 cases after vaccination with the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine (ChAdOx1 nCoV-19) and 26 cases after messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccination (25 cases with Pfizer/BioNTech [BNT162b2] and 1 case with Moderna [mRNA-1273]). Thrombocytopenia was reported in 107 out of 187 CVST cases (57%) in the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 group, in none from the mRNA vaccine group and in 7 out of 100 (7%) cases in the pre-COVID-19 group. Among the 117 patients with a reported outcome in the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 group, 44 (38%) patients died, in comparison to 2 out of 10 (20%) patients in the mRNA vaccine group and 3 out of 100 (3%) in the pre-COVID-19 group. Mortality among patients with thrombocytopenia in the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 group was 49% (95% CI 39–60%). The authors concluded that cerebral venous sinus thrombosis occurring after ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccination had a clinical profile distinct from CVST unrelated to vaccination. Only CVST after ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccination was associated with thrombocytopenia [112].

Cases of GBS, which is a side effect of SARS-CoV-2 (SCoVaG) vaccination, were discussed in the literature review by Finsterer et al. [113]. Overall, 9 articles were identified describing 18 patients aged 20 to 86 years with SCoVaG. SCoVaG developed after the first vaccine dose in each patient. The AstraZeneca vaccine was administered to 14 patients, the Pfizer vaccine was used for 4 patients, and the Johnson & Johnson vaccine was administered to 1 patient. The intervals between vaccination and the onset of GBS were 3 h to 39 days. SCoVaG treatment included IVIG (n = 13), steroids (n = 3) or no therapy (n = 3). Six patients required mechanical ventilation. Only one patient recovered completely, while partial recovery was achieved in nine patients. The authors concluded that GBS may develop immediately after the first SARS-CoV-2 vaccine is administered. Although the causal relationship between SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and SCoVaG remains speculative, more evidence suggests a direct impact of the vaccine on the development of GBS [113].

Vaccines are commonly considered safe and effective, but their administration to MS patients has been controversial for a long time. Nevertheless, vaccination against the coronavirus is also recommended for individuals with MS [114]. The mRNA and vector vaccines seem to be effective and safe. To date, only a few cases of the reactivation or emergence of a demyelinating disease have been reported following vaccination with a recombinant adenovirus (Oxford/AstraZeneca) [115]. Moreover, a case was described where MS first manifested after the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine [116]. However, a recent study of approximately 500 patients with MS demonstrated a relapse rate (approximately 2%) after administration of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, which was comparable to that observed among unvaccinated individuals [117]. Therefore, despite the above rare case reports, it is mostly considered that the benefits of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines vastly outweigh the potential risks [116]. Most adverse events following vaccination are mild, and the acute relapse incidence is low [118].

Current challenges and future perspectives

The major waves of the COVID-19 epidemic appear to be behind us. We have gained a fairly good understanding of the direct effects of SARS-CoV-2 on various systems and organs and its complications. There is no doubt that the coronavirus has a powerful affinity for the nervous system. The greatest concern is now the scale of the long-term consequences of contracting COVID-19. There is growing concern that we are facing a wave of chronic illnesses about which we still know little. According to estimates, more than 100 million people may have complications [119]. Observations to date suggest that most people complain of nervous system disorders. It is estimated that the so-called neuro-COVID affects between 62 and 70% of patients [119–121]. One recently published study analysed data from almost 1.2 million patients who contracted the coronavirus between 20 January 2020 and 13 April 2022 [61]. These data were compared with data from people who had, among other things, the same vaccination status, age, and the same COVID-19 risk factors and severity but did not experience SARS-CoV-2 infection. The authors then analysed the risk of 14 psychiatric and neurological diagnoses among the participants. They compared the risk of these disorders with the control group. They also looked at how these risks differed during periods of Alpha, Delta and Omicron variant dominance. They found that symptoms of anxiety disorders were exacerbated in those who had an active SARS-CoV-2 infection; however, the risk of anxiety and depression decreased to the level of the control group over the next few months [61]. Cognitive deficits (deterioration of memory or attention), insomnia and seizures were prevalent among children after the first 6 months of infection. Among adults, there was an increased risk of brain fog, dementia, psychotic disorders and epilepsy or seizures, which was still the case at the end of the 2-year follow-up period [61]. It was also found that patients infected with the Delta variant had an increased risk of ischaemic stroke, cognitive deficits, insomnia, anxiety disorders and epilepsy compared with participants infected with the Alpha variant. Furthermore, although the Omicron variant is associated with lower mortality rates, the risk of psychiatric or neurological problems remains similar to that of Delta [61]. In particular, the high rate of dementia and seizures diagnosed after COVID-19 is of concern [61]. It seems that the greatest challenge is now to learn more about the long-term impact of COVID-19, which may allow us to develop ways to prevent late complications and help health care professionals prepare for the future.

Summary

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the entire socioeconomic system, particularly health care, pointing out numerous systemic problems and shortcomings. It showed that the world was helpless in the face of the most dangerous challenge of the twenty-first century. Attempts to solve the issues took time and a comprehensive approach. It can be said with certainty that the pandemic generated not only health effects in the form of morbidity and death caused by the virus but also painfully affected other areas of health and health care. People undergoing oncology treatment, patients after strokes and heart attacks, and patients with diabetes and other chronic diseases had reduced access to services during the pandemic. The proportion of so-called avoidable deaths increased. Excess deaths ('excess mortality') show the hidden victims of the epidemic. This is a more comprehensive measure of the total mortality impact of the pandemic than just the number of COVID-19 deaths. It also includes COVID-19 deaths that were not properly diagnosed and reported, as well as deaths from other causes that can be attributed to the overall health system crisis.

The experience of over 2 years of fighting with the pandemic has shown that SARS-CoV-2 infection is not an ordinary respiratory tract condition. We fairly quickly discovered that COVID-19 was a multisystem and multiorgan disease. We also know that SARS-CoV-2 demonstrates tremendous neurotropic potential. The results of meta-analyses indicate that the most common complications of COVID-19 are fatigue (32–42.9%), olfactory dysfunction (12–43.1%), myalgia (20–33%), headache (10.1–29%), and dizziness (6.4–10%). In contrast, the most common serious complication is encephalopathy.

The cytokine storm, which occurs not only in the lungs but also in the central nervous system, is associated with a release of various neurotoxins responsible for neurological manifestations. Moreover, we know that SARS-CoV-2 has a special affinity with and for the processes of thrombosis and embolism. Therefore, the central nervous system, with its arteries and veins, is a good site for thrombotic lesions. As in many neurotropic viral infections, encephalitis, encephalopathy or Guillain‒Barré syndrome may develop.

Neurological manifestations in SARS-CoV-2 infection may herald the infection and occur as one of the initial signs or symptoms, such as sleep disorder, changes in sleep patterns, headache, transient ischaemic attack or limb numbness. Moreover, they may be dominant signs of severe infection with cerebral hypoxia and inflammation. Finally, they may be long-term manifestations, i.e., indicating post-COVID-19 syndrome, which most commonly occurs as chronic fatigue or ‘brain fog’. Undoubtedly, all these manifestations (neurological and neurocognitive) lead to a considerably lower quality of life as well as impaired professional, social and family-related functioning. This is a consequence of COVID-19, which we will suffer for a long time.

Abbreviations

ACE2

Angiotensin-converting enzyme-2

ADEM

Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis

ALS

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

aOR

Adjusted odds ratio

ChAdOx1 nCov-19

AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine

BNT162b2

Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine

CNS

Central nervous system

COVID-19

Coronavirus disease

CK

Creatinine kinase

CSF

Cerebrospinal fluid

CVST

Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis

DMTs

Disease-modifying therapies

EDSS

Expanded disability status scale

EEG

Electroencephalography

GBS

Guillain–Barré syndrome

HSCT

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

IVIG

Intravenous immune globulin

IVT

Intravenous thrombolysis

LETM

Longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis

MS

Multiple sclerosis

mRNA

Messenger RNA

mRNA-1273

Moderna vaccine

NMOSD

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders

NK

Natural killer cells

PCS

Post-COVID-19 syndrome

PRES

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome

SARS-CoV-2

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2

SCoVaG

Side effect of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination

SCCM

Society of Critical Care Medicine

TIA

Transient ischemic attacks

WHO

World Health Organization

Author contributions

The authors contributed equally to this work.

Funding

This study was supported by a grant from Jan Kochanowski University of Kielce, Kielce, Poland (SUPS.RN.22.034).

Declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors have no conflict of interest regarding the publication of this article.