Neurobiology of COVID-19: how can the virus affect the brain?

Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which has been declared a public health emergency of international interest, with confirmed cases in most countries. COVID-19 presents manifestations that can range from asymptomatic or mild infections up to severe manifestations that lead to hospitalization and death. A growing amount of evidence indicates that the virus may cause neuroinvasion. Postmortem brain study findings have included edema, hemorrhage, hydrocephalus, atrophy, encephalitis, infarcts, swollen axons, myelin loss, gliosis, neuronal satellitosis, hypoxic-ischemic damage, arteriolosclerosis, leptomeningeal inflammation, neuronal loss, and axon degeneration. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic is causing dangerous effects on the mental health of the world population, some of which can be attributed to its social impact (social distancing, financial issues, and quarantine). There is also a concern that environmental stressors, enhanced by psychological factors, are contributing to the emergence of psychiatric outcomes during the pandemic. Although clinical studies and diagnosing SARS-CoV-2-related neurological disease can be challenging, they are necessary to help define the manifestations and burden of COVID-19 in neurological and psychiatric symptoms during and after the pandemic. This review aims to present the neurobiology of coronavirus and postmortem neuropathological hallmarks.

Coronavirus-2; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; neurobiology; psychiatric disorders

Introduction

Emerging pathogens have become significant challenges for public health worldwide.¹ Coronaviruses are enveloped viruses with RNA as genetic material. They are commonly found among humans, other mammals, and birds. In some species, the virus can cause diseases in the respiratory tract, intestinal tract, and liver, as well as neurological disorders in humans.² By 2019, two viruses of the coronavirus family had caused major epidemic outbreaks of respiratory diseases: severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), from 2002 to 2004, and the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) in 2012.³ At the end of December 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) was notified that in Wuhan, China, cases of pneumonia of unknown etiology⁴ were occurring and spreading rapidly to other parts of China, Asia, Europe, and later to the Americas.⁵ In January 2020, the virus was isolated from airway epithelial cells of patients affected by the disease. The etiologic agent was identified as a new coronavirus; however, it was different from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV).⁶ The new virus was named severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2)⁷ and it causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The COVID-19 pandemic, with confirmed cases in most countries, has been declared a public health emergency of international interest.⁸ COVID-19 symptoms range from asymptomatic or mild infections (approximately 80%) to severe signs that lead to hospitalization and death.⁹ Transmission occurs from person to person mainly through respiratory droplets, which are usually released when the infected person coughs or sneezes, and direct contact, similar to the human influenza virus, SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV.⁸ To a lesser extent, transmission can occur through contaminated surfaces.¹⁰ However, recent evidence supports that transmission can also occur via aerosols, mostly indoors where there is insufficient ventilation and long-term exposure to high concentrations of aerosols.¹¹,¹² The approximate incubation period from exposure to symptom onset is 4 to 6 days,¹²,¹³ and 97.5% of symptomatic patients have symptoms within 11 days of infection.¹² The most frequent clinical symptoms are fever, dry cough, fatigue, dyspnea, anosmia, ageusia, gastrointestinal symptoms, or some combination of these.¹⁴ Shortness of breath usually occurs between 5 to 8 days after the first symptoms and is suggestive of disease worsening.¹⁴,¹⁵ Risk factors for COVID-19 complications include old age (> 65 years), cardiovascular disease, chronic lung disease, hypertension, diabetes, obesity,¹⁶ and autoimmune diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or psoriasis).¹⁷ By December 2020, more than 67.2 million cases had been confirmed worldwide, resulting in more than 1.5 million deaths.¹⁸ According to the WHO report, more than 26.2 million cases and 720,228 deaths have been confirmed in the Americas; in Europe, there have been more than 18.4 million cases and 412,362 deaths; in Southeast Asia, there have been more than 10.7 million cases and 163,454 deaths; in the Mediterranean there have been more than 4.04 million cases and 102,160 deaths; in Africa there have been over 1.4 million cases and 33,512 deaths; and in the Western Pacific there have been over 800,000 cases and 17,261 deaths.¹⁹ This review aims to present the neurobiology of the coronavirus and its postmortem neuropathological hallmarks.

The coronavirus: severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2)

Although scientists have developed precise techniques and have quickly identified the new coronavirus, it is necessary to investigate its viral structure, colonization and pathogenic mechanisms, and the future consequences of infection on survivors.²⁰

SARS-CoV-2 is a spherical β-coronavirus that received this name due to its high similarity to SARS-CoV (79.5%). Since they belong to the same family, Coronaviridae, they share several similarities.²¹ SARS-CoV-2 is an enveloped virus with a single-stranded positive RNA genome of approximately 30 kb, with a receptor-binding domain (RBD) structure similar to that of SARS-CoV.²² Open reading frames (ORFs) ORF1a and ORF1b have also been identified in its sequencing, which encode a variety of structural and non-structural proteins that play an essential role in viral survival and virulence power.²³ The four structural proteins encoded by ORFs include spike (S) proteins, membrane (M) proteins, nucleocapsid (N) proteins, and envelope (E) proteins,²⁴ which are all necessary to produce a structurally complete viral particle²⁵ (Figure 1).

Figure 1
Schematic representation of new coronavirus structure. Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a spherical β-coronavirus with a positive-sense RNA with four main structural proteins: spike (S) and membrane (M) glycoproteins, as well as envelope (E) and nucleocapsid (N) proteins. The receptor-binding domain (RBD) of protein S interacts with angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) on the surface of host cells.

Protein S is a highly immunogenic homotrimeric glycoprotein (ranging from 9 to 12 nm) in the outer portion of the virus, which gives the appearance of a solar corona.²⁶ It is one of the main targets of neutralizing antibodies after host infection and therapeutic and vaccine focus.²⁷ This protein is essential for virus fixation on the surface of host cells, where the RBD of protein S mediates the interaction with angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2).²⁸ There are two functional subunits of this protein: the S1 subunit, which is responsible for binding to the host cell's receptor, and the S2 subunit, which is responsible for fusion between the viral and cellular membranes, facilitating viral entry into the cell.²⁷ Protein S can access the endoplasmic reticulum using an N-terminal signal sequence, and it is strongly associated with glycosylated N.²⁹

Another essential component of SARS-CoV-2 is protein M. This approximately 25-30 kDa protein is the most abundant in the virus, can bind to all other structural proteins, and is responsible for defining the shape of the viral envelope.³⁰ The interaction between M and N proteins can stabilize and form nucleocapsids, promoting completion of viral assembly.³¹ Protein M exists as a dimer and can have two conformations: M_LONG, which is associated with rigidity, spike clusters and the curvature of the membrane, and M_COMPACT, which is associated with flexibility and low spike density.³² In addition, the interaction between M and S is essential for the fixation of S in the endoplasmic reticulum – Golgi intermediate compartment/Golgi complex and its incorporation into new virions.³³

The N protein, another structural protein of the virus, consists of two domains: an N-terminal domain and a C-terminal domain.³¹ This protein is closely linked to the genetic material forming the nucleocapsid. It is thus involved in processes related to the viral genome, such as RNA transcription and replication, and the response of host cells to viral infections.³⁴,³⁵ It is also involved in assembly and viral budding, resulting in the complete formation of the virion.³⁶ Protein N is still intensely phosphorylated and can generate structural changes, increasing affinity for viral RNA.³³

The last and smallest structural component is protein E (8 to 12 kDa), which has a role in viral production and maturation.³⁷ This membrane protein has ion channel activity with an N-terminal ectodomain and a C-terminal endodomain.³⁶ Proteins E, M, and S are incorporated into the lipid envelope of the virion. While protein S is involved in fusion with host membranes and protein M in envelope formation and budding, protein E is not essential for virus replication. However, if it is absent, it can result in virus attenuation and prejudice viral maturation.³⁸

The mechanism of pathogenicity

Many aspects of the pathogenesis of COVID-19 must be understood. Fundamental processes in the life cycle of SARS-CoV-2 in the host include binding, penetration, biosynthesis, maturation, and release. Upon invasion, the virus binds to the host's receptors (binding) and enters cells through endocytosis or membrane fusion (penetration). Afterward, the viral content is released, and the viral RNA enters the cell’s nucleus for replication. The viral mRNA is soon copied and used for the production of viral proteins (biosynthesis), and new viruses are organized (maturation) and released.³⁹

Reports of devastating damage to the cardiovascular system, intestines, kidneys, and brain in COVID-19 patients have surfaced more frequently.⁴⁰ Blood coagulation can constrict the vessels, resulting in pulmonary embolism, ischemic stroke, or ischemia in the extremities.⁴⁰,⁴¹

The host cell infection mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 is similar to that of SARS-CoV; it is mediated mainly by the ACE2 cell surface receptor⁴² and less frequently by CD147.²³ ACE2 is a glycoprotein expressed in the epithelium of the airways, lungs parenchyma, vascular endothelium, heart, kidneys, and small intestine.⁴³ However, ACE2 receptors are also expressed in regions of the human brain, such as the motor cortex and posterior cingulate, nigra substance, ventricles, middle temporal gyrus, olfactory bulb, ventrolateral medulla, solitary tract nucleus, and vagus nerve. Some central nervous system (CNS) cells, including neurons, microglia, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes, can also express ACE2.⁴³,⁴⁴

SARS-CoV-2 can access the CNS can occur in two ways: hematogenous dissemination or the neural pathway.⁴⁵ Hematogenous dissemination occurs through leukocytes, which serve as a dissemination vehicle for the CNS through the blood-brain barrier (BBB) or blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier.⁴⁶ Access to the CNS can occur by expressing ACE2 in vascular endothelial cells⁴⁴ or by infected leukocytes that cross the BBB, which is known as a Trojan horse mechanism.⁴⁶ The intense inflammatory response of COVID-19 can lead to increased permeability of the BBB, allowing infected cells, cytokines, and even the virus to pass into the CNS.⁴⁷ Neural access involves transporting the virus through the nasal cavity and rhinopharynx through the olfactory and trigeminal nerves, while the lower respiratory tract is accessed through the vagus nerve.⁴⁸ The virus then spreads via transsynaptic transfer using endocytosis/exocytosis and the vesicle’s fast axonal transport mechanism to move along microtubules to neuronal cell bodies⁴⁴ (Figure 2).

Figure 2
Mechanisms of central nervous system entry. Access to the central nervous system (CNS) through the blood-brain barrier (BBB) can occur by expressing angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) in vascular endothelial cells or by infected leukocytes that cross through the BBB, known as a Trojan horse mechanism (hematogenous pathway). Neural access involves transporting the virus through the nasal cavity and rhinopharynx through the olfactory and trigeminal nerves and the lower respiratory tract through the vagus nerve (neural pathway). CSF = cerebrospinal fluid; MDD = major depressive disorder; SARS-CoV-2 = severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus-2.

To enter cells, SARS-CoV-2 uses protein S to bind to the ACE2 receptor via the RBD of the S1 subunit.²⁰ Therefore, viral internalization is facilitated by type 2 transmembrane serine protease (TMPRSS2), which cleaves ACE2 and the S1/S2 subunit site and allows the fusion of the viral and cellular membranes, a process carried out by the S2 subunit.⁴⁹ The virus enters the host cell by endocytosis, releases its genetic material and uses its machinery to translate and replicate RNA and release new viruses⁴² (Figure 3).

Figure 3
Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) entry and pathophysiology of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): 1) to enter inside of the cells, SARS-CoV-2 uses spike protein (S) to bind to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor via the receptor-binding domain (RBD). Viral internalization is facilitated by type 2 transmembrane serine protease (TMPRSS2), which allows the fusion of the viral and cellular membranes. The virus enters the host cell by endocytosis, releases its genetic material, and uses its machinery to translate and replicate RNA and release new viruses; 2) recognition of pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), including viral RNA and glycoproteins, by pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), such as Toll-like receptor (TLR)3, 4 and 7; 3) after recognition, cell signaling begins with the transmission of the signal from the cytoplasmic domain of the TLR to receptor-associated with kinase 4 (IRAK-4), which is mediated by myeloid differentiation protein 88 (MyD88). Afterwards, nuclear transcription factor kappa B (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) activate genes for proinflammatory molecule expression, including tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-18, and interferon-alpha (IFN-α); 4) TLR3 and TLR7 recognize viral RNA, resulting in nuclear activation and translocation of interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) and NF-κB, which induce the production of IFN-α and proinflammatory cytokines. IFN-α can bind to the IFN-α/β receptor (IFNAR), activate the Janus kinase pathway (JAK) and signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT), initiating the transcription of IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs); 5) the expression of proinflammatory mediators establish an innate immune response. TIRAP = Toll-interleukin 1 receptor (TIR) domain-containing adaptor protein; TRAF6 = tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6; TRAM = TRIF-related adaptor molecule; TRIF = TIR-domain-containing adapter-inducing interferon-β.

The host's immune system can detect SARS-CoV-2 through viral RNA, glycoproteins, and other virus molecules, also known as pathogen-associated molecular patterns.⁵⁰ These patterns are recognized by pattern recognition receptors, such as Toll-like receptors, which are present in antigen-presenting cells, such as macrophages and monocytes.⁵¹ Protein S can be recognized by TLR4⁵² and, after recognition, intracellular signaling begins through signal transmission from the cytoplasmic domain of the TLR to interleukin-1 receptor-associated with kinase 4 (IRAK-4).⁵³ IRAK-4 activation is mediated by myeloid differentiation protein 88. IRAK-4 stimulates tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6, and this cascade results in the release of the nuclear transcription factor-kappa B and the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway, which activates gene expression of proinflammatory molecules, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-33, interferon (IFN)-α, IFN-γ, and chemokines.³⁰ During viral replication, endosomal receptors TLR3 and TLR7 can also recognize viral RNA, resulting in nuclear activation and translocation of interferon regulatory factor-3 and nuclear transcription factor-kappa B, which induces the production of type I IFN (IFN-α) and proinflammatory cytokines.⁵⁴ After release, IFN-α can bind to IFN-α/β receptor, activate the Janus kinase pathway and the signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT), STAT1 and STAT2, which form complexes with interferon regulatory factor-9, initiating the transcription of IFN-stimulated genes. Together, the expression of cytokines, IFNs, and IFN-stimulated genes establish an innate immune response that prevents viral replication in infected cells⁵⁴,⁵⁵ (Figure 3). However, the coronavirus has developed strategies to survive in host cells, including the formation of vesicles that prevent recognition by pattern recognition receptors and the use of structural and non-structural proteins that can suppress the activation of IFNs, which are closely associated with disease severity.⁵⁶

Post-mortem brain studies

Autopsy tissue samples are essential to understanding the effect and consequences of COVID-19 on the brain. Here we report the results of autopsies of brain samples from patients who died of COVID-19. The following areas of the brain were studied in the reviewed papers: the frontal and occipital lobes, olfactory bulb, cingulate gyrus, corpus callosum, hippocampus, basal ganglia, thalamus, cerebellum, midbrain, pons, medulla, neocortex, brainstem, gyrus rectus, cerebral and cerebellar white and grey matter, and the lateral ventricles. Macroscopically, the studies revealed the presence of edema,⁵⁷-⁵⁹ hemorrhagic lesions,⁵⁷-⁶² hydrocephalus,⁶³ atrophy,⁶⁴ low brain weight,⁶⁵ encephalitis,⁶⁶ asymmetry in the olfactory bulb,⁵⁸ and infarcts.⁶⁷,⁶⁸ Microscopically, the results included positive astrocyte reactivity evaluated for GFAP, swollen axons⁵⁷ and loss of myelin,⁵⁷,⁶² gliosis and neuronal satellitosis,⁶⁹ hypoxic-ischemic damage,⁶⁷,⁶⁸,⁷⁰ mild or moderate arteriolosclerosis, leptomeningeal inflammation, microglial nodules,⁶⁷ neuron loss,⁶⁶,⁷¹ axon degeneration,⁶²,⁶⁶ diffuse or focal spongiosis, vascular congestion, and focal ischemic necrosis.⁵⁹ For more details about the post-mortem brain studies, see Table 1.

Table 1
Outcomes in postmortem brain tissues of patients affected by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Author	Sample size, sex, and age	Primary disease	Brain region studied	Technique and markers	Main findings
Barton72	n=2, 2 ♀, age 42 and 77	Obesity, hypertension, deep vein thrombosis, splenectomy, pancreatitis, myotonic dystrophy	NR	H&E	The study found no gross abnormalities in the CNS of either patient, including no abnormalities in brain weight.
					The study did not investigate any further into the effects of COVID-19 on the CNS.
Bradley61	n=14, 8 ♀ and 6 ♂, age ± 73.5	Arterial hypertension, hyperlipidemia, type II DM, obesity, OSA, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, CAD, CKD, COPD, renal disease, osteoporosis, aortic stenosis, breast cancer	All	H&E	Of the 14 patients, only six had brain examinations.Intraparenchymal hemorrhage was observed in one patient, while scattered punctate subarachnoid hemorrhages and punctate microhemorrhages in the brainstem were observed in another.
					The other four patients showed no diagnostic alternations in the brain.
Bulfamante73	n=1, ♂, age 54	NR	Olfactory nerve, gyrus rectus, and brainstem	Ultrastructural analysis	Severe and widespread tissue damage was observed in the neurons, glia, nerve axons, and myelin sheath. The damage from the olfactory nerve to the gyrus rectus, and to the brainstem was less severe. Various particles referable to virions of SARS-CoV-2 were observed.
Conklin62	n=16, 5 ♀/11 ♂, age ± 63.5	NR	Cerebral and cerebellar white and grey matter	H&E, MRI, RT-qPCR	Eleven of 16 patients had lesions, with eight having > 10 lesions.
					Of these eight patients, four had lesions involving the corpus callosum, and the other four had lesions involving subcortical and deep white matter.
					Uncal and tonsillar herniation, diffuse discoloration of the grey-white matter junction, and numerous punctuate hemorrhages were found. Significant loss of axon and myelin was also noted.
Coolen58	n=19, 14 ♀ and 5 ♂, age ± 77.0	Hypertension, cardiac disorders, CKD, DM, COPD	All	MRI	Parenchymal brain MRI abnormalities were documented in four of the 19 patients. Abnormalities included sub-cortical macro-and micro-hemorrhages, swelling induced by supratentorial white matter changes, and hazy hyperintensity in the MRI.
					DIC was the predicted cause of one hemorrhage while the second remains unclear. Four separate decedents had asymmetric olfactory bulbs. Finally, no changes were found in the brainstem expect for a capillary telangiectasia in one patient.
Jaunmuktane68	n=2, 1 ♀ and 1 ♂, age 50 and 60	Asthma, DM, hypertension	All	CD3, CD34, CD68, MRI, SMI31, SMI94	Patient 1 was found to suffer from multifocal brain infarcts. The MCA and PCA infarcts were likely caused by local thrombosis or hypertension.
					The second patient, who died from multiorgan failure, suffered from cortical and white matter microlesions likely caused by vascular injury, immune-mediated, or hypoxia.
					CD68 highlights many more lesions than MRI or microscopic examination. CD34 showed blood vessels within some white matter microlesions. SMI31 revealed swollen axons in neurofilament staining, but SMI94 showed no demyelination.
Lacy63	n=1 ♀, age 58	Type 2 DM, obesity, HLD, mild intermittent asthma, chronic lower extremity swelling with ulceration	Brain	Gross examination and H&E	The brain (1,221 g) presented hydrocephalus ex-vacuo.The frontal horns measured 2.8 cm at the level of the temporal poles.
Lax64	n=11, 8 ♂ and 3 ♀, age ± 80.5	Arterial hypertension,DM type 2, ischemic stroke, dementia, pulmonary embolism	Brain	Dissection	A brain autopsy was performed in only one patient, showing atrophy and arteriosclerotic changes but no acute alterations.
Menter74	n=21, 17 ♂ and 4 ♀, age ± 76.0	HTN, obesity, CVD, DM, chronic neurological condition, COPD, malignancy, CLD, CKD, immunosuppression	Brain	H&E	A small number of RNA copies of the virus were found in the brain.Brain analysis revealed no inflammatory infiltrates or neuronal necrosis. Three of the four brains examined presented mild hypoxic injury.
Nunes Duarte-Neto69	n=10, 5 ♀ and 5 ♂, age 69 (33-83)	Systemic arterial hypertension, DM, chronic cardiopathy, COPD, renal disease, neoplasia	NR	Hematoxylin, H&E, MIA-US, and qRT-PCR	Reactive gliosis in the brain was found in eight out of nine autopsies. Other findings included neuronal satellitosis, small vessel disease, and perivascular hemorrhages. Alterations to the cerebral cortex, potentially caused by the viral infection, were also found.
Paniz-Mondolfi60	n=1, ♂, age 74	Parkinson’s disease	Frontal lobes	CRP, D-dimer level, ferritin, RT-PCR, TEM	The postmortem sample indicated viral particles in the frontal lobe. Individual and small vesicles of pleomorphic viral-like particles were present. Transcellular
					Penetration of the active pathogen through the brain microvascular endothelial cells was recorded.
					Neural cell bodies demonstrated distended cytoplasmic vacuoles with enveloped viral particles and centers of electron density. The presence of SARS-CoV-2 was later confirmed through RT-PCR.
Puelles75	n=22, 16 ♀ and 6 ♂, age ± 75.9	Cardiovascular condition, respiratory condition, brain disorder, CKD, metabolic condition	NR	RT-PCR	The highest levels of SARS-CoV-2 copies per cell were found in the respiratory system, although lower levels were discovered in the brain and other organs.PCR confirmed the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in the brains of eight/21 patients. The study suggests that brain tropism increases with the number of preexisting conditions. The findings indicate that COVID-19 has broad organotropism.
Reichard57	n=1, ♂, age 71	CAD	Frontal lobes and corpus callosum	H&E, LFB, GFAP, and PAS	The postmortem brain sample presented mild brain swelling and hemorrhagic lesions disseminated throughout the cerebral hemispheric white matter.
					There were foci of intraparenchymal blood in the white matter, with macrophages on the periphery of the lesions.
					Reactive astrocytes were observed in the white matter. At the same time, APP immunostaining showed swollen and damaged axons on the periphery of the hemorrhagic foci.
					The brain sample also presented the loss of myelin and positive macrophages.
Remmelink59	n=17, 12 ♂ and 5 ♀, age ± 72.0	Arterial hypertension, DM, cerebrovascular disease, CAD, cancer	Frontal lobe	H&E, RT-PCR	A brain autopsy was performed on eleven patients, with SARS-CoV-2 RNA detected in nine.
					The post-mortem analysis found cerebral hemorrhage or hemorrhagic suffusion, focal ischemic necrosis, edema and/or vascular congestion, and diffuse or focal spongiosis.No evidence of viral encephalitis or vasculitis, isolated neuronal necrosis, or perivascular lymphocytic infiltration was found.
Schaller76	n=10 ,7 ♀ and 3 ♂, mean age 79 (64-90)	Arterial hypertension, arteriosclerosis, atrial fibrillation, CKD, COPD, DM, obesity, hypothyroidism, adenocarcinoma - lung, CAD, CML, CLL, cardiomyopathy, fatty liver disease, dementia, HCM, hyperthyroidism	NR	H&E	Postmortem examination of 10 patients showed no morphologically detectable pathology in the brain. No evidence was found of encephalitis or central nervous vasculitis.
Skok77	n=28, 17 ♂ and 11 ♀, age ± 82.9	NR	Lateral ventricles and corpus callosum	qPCR	No viral RNA was found in brain tissue or CSF samples.No brain autopsy was performed.
Solomon67	n=18, 14 ♂ and 4 ♀, age ± 62.0	DM, HTN, CVD, HLD, CKD, prior stroke, dementia, treated anaplastic astrocytoma	Frontal and occipital lobe, olfactory bulb, cingulate gyrus, corpus callosum, hippocampus, BG, thalamus, cerebellum, midbrain, pons, and medulla	H&E, CD45, RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) for the SARS-CoV-2	All 18 patients had acute hypoxic-ischemic damage in the cerebrum and cerebellum and were SARS-CoV-2-positive in the frontal/olfactory medulla.A loss of neurons was detected in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and cerebellar Purkinje cell layer.
					Eight out of 18 patients presented mild arteriolosclerosis, three had chronic infarcts, five had moderate arteriolosclerosis, four presented pathological features of Alzheimer’s disease, two showed pathological features of Lewy body disease, four had Alzheimer’s type II astrocytosis, three had focal leptomeningeal chronic inflammation, one had a recurrent or residual anaplastic astrocytoma, and one had a single microglial nodule.
Suess & Hausmann78	n=1, ♂, age 59	Hypertension, type II DM	NR	CD-68, H&E, PAS, and TTF-1	The autopsy of the subject, whose coronavirus infection was confirmed by a pharyngeal swab test, found no abnormalities in brain weight and no major lesions.
von Weyhern66	n=6, 4 ♂ and 2 ♀, age ± 69.0	HTN, COPD, CRF, PHT, PAD, CAD, atrial fibrillation, alcohol abuse	Hippocampus, neocortex, cerebellum, and brainstem nuclei	H&E, LFB, and IHC	Brain examination revealed localized perivascular and interstitial encephalitis with neuronal cell loss and axon degeneration in the dorsal motor nuclei of the vagus nerve, CNV, nucleus tractus solitarii, dorsal raphe nuclei, and fasciculus longitudinalis medialis, but no territorial infarctions.
					Petechial bleeding was observed in four of the six patients.
Wichmann65	n=12, 9 ♀ and 3 ♂, age ± 73.0	CAD, arterial hypertension, obesity, type 2 DM, atrial fibrillation, asthma, CKD, Parkinson’s, COPD, dementia, epilepsy, granulomatous pneumopathy, NSCLC, PAD, trisomy 21, ulcerative colitis	NR	AE1/AE3, and H&E	Four patients had detectable viral RNA in the brain. The authors suspected that one patient had septic encephalomalacia, although confirmation is pending brain dissection. Another patient was found to have below average brain weight.

• APP = amyloid precursor protein; BG = basal ganglia; CAD = coronary artery disease; CD = clusters of differentiation; CKD = chronic kidney disease; CLD = chronic liver disease; CLL = chronic lymphocytic leukemia; CML = chronic myelogenous leukemia; NV = trigeminal nerves; CNS = central nervous system; COPD = chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; CRF = chronic renal failure; CRP = C-reactive protein; CSF = cerebrospinal fluid; CVD = cardiovascular disease; DIC = disseminated intravascular coagulation; DM = diabetes mellitus; GFAP = glial fibrillary acidic protein; H&E = hematoxylin-eosin stain; HCM = hypertrophic cardiomyopathy; HLD = hyperlipidemia; HTN = hypertension; IHC = immunochemistry; LFB = luxol fast blue; MCA = middle cerebral artery; MIA-US = ultrasound-guided minimally invasive autopsy; MRI = magnetic resonance imaging; NR = not reported; NSCLC = non-small cell lung cancer; OSA = obstructive sleep apnea; PAD = peripheral artery disease; PAS = periodic acid-Schif; PCA = posterior cerebral artery; PCR = reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction; PHT = pulmonary hypertension; qPCR = quantitative polymerase chain reaction; qRT-PCR = real-time quantitative reverse transcription; RT-PCR = reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction; SARS-CoV-2 = coronavirus-2 of the severe acute respiratory syndrome; SMI = serious mental illness; TEM = transmission electron microscopy; TTF-1 = thyroid transcription factor-1.

Neurological manifestations of coronavirus

As the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic progresses, a growing body of evidence indicates that the virus can cause neuroinvasion and affect the CNS in several ways.⁷⁹,⁸⁰ The virus can gain access to the CNS via the neural pathway (olfactory nerve and nasal cavity) or the hematogenous pathway (infected leukocytes and endothelial cells from the BBB).⁴⁴,⁴⁵ Neurotropism is also a common feature of the SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV viruses, and it has been reported that the endothelium, glial cells, and neurons express ACE2, which makes them a potential target for SARS-CoV-2.⁸¹

Neurological manifestations during COVID-19 infection can be caused directly by the virus in the CNS or by the host's immune response and systemic complications.⁷⁹ After gaining access to the CNS, the virus can cause immune cell infiltration and activate inflammatory pathways through the secretion of cytokines and chemokines and activate thrombotic pathways, which contribute to tissue damage and cause microangiopathy, respectively.⁷⁹,⁸² Nonspecific symptoms include headache, dizziness, anosmia, ageusia, hypoplasia, and neuralgia (the latter four involving cranial nerves),⁴⁷ in addition to sleep disorders, stroke, impaired consciousness, coma, seizure, and encephalopathy.⁸,⁴⁴,⁸³ Severe COVID-19 patients may have marked vascular dysfunction, which is seen in high levels of D-dimer and procoagulant factors. Thus, thromboembolic complications, including stroke, are commonly seen in these patients.⁸⁴ The occurrence of stroke in COVID-19 patients has been reported in some studies.⁴⁷,⁸⁵ During SARS-CoV-2 infection, coagulopathy and inflammation can cause thrombosis in cerebral blood vessels and cardiac embolism, leading to ischemic stroke. The presence of pre-existing comorbidities, including advanced age, cardiovascular diseases, and cerebral microvascular dysfunction can be a significant risk factor for stroke in COVID-19 patients.⁸⁶ Reports of meningoencephalitis⁸⁷ and intracerebral hemorrhage in affected patients⁸⁸ also indicate that the CNS is invaded by SARS-CoV-2.

Mao et al.⁴⁷ were the first to report neurological injury in COVID-19 patients. This study included 214 patients from Wuhan, China, who were hospitalized and tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection. The neurological alterations were divided into manifestations of the CNS, peripheral nervous system, and skeletal muscle injury. A total of 78 patients (36.4%) had neurological manifestations, of which 53 (24.8%) were in the CNS, most often including dizziness (36 [16.8%]) and headache (28 [13.1%]). There were peripheral nervous system manifestations in 19 (8.9%), including ageusia (12 [5.6%]) and anosmia (11 [5.1%]). Twenty-three patients (10.7%) had a skeletal muscle injury. Neurological manifestations were also more common in patients with severe infections and included acute cerebrovascular disease, impaired consciousness, and skeletal muscle injury, in addition to a more intense inflammatory response, lymphopenia, and increased levels of C-reactive protein.⁴⁷ In another study with 60 patients affected by COVID-19, 41 (68.33%) had neurological symptoms, including mood oscillation in 41.67%, fatigue in 26.67%, headache in 25%, altered vision in 21.67%, myalgia in 15%, reduced mobility in 11.67%, memory loss in 13.33%, ageusia in 6.67%, numbness in 6.67%, tremors in 6.67%, anosmia in 3.33%, and hearing loss in 1.67%. Three months after recovery, more than 50% of the patients still had neurological symptoms.⁸⁹ Encephalitis, micro-hemorrhage, hemorrhage, encephalopathy, and cerebral venous embolism have also been reported as consequences of COVID-19 infection.⁸⁷,⁹⁰ Zhang et al.⁹¹ evaluated 82 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 and found impaired consciousness in 17 (21%). A case series study analyzed 27 patients under the age of 18. Neurological manifestations occurred in 14.8%, such as encephalopathy, headache, brainstem signs with dysarthria or dysphagia, meningism and cerebellar ataxia, muscle weakness, and reduced reflexes.⁹² A French study of 58 patients found that 40 (69%) were agitated after sedation was discontinued, and confusion was observed in 26 (65%) in the intensive care unit according to the Confusion Assessment Method. Some patients also had larger leptomeningeal spaces (13.62%), and bilateral frontotemporal hypoperfusion was observed in eight patients. Two asymptomatic patients had small acute ischemic strokes, and one patient had a subacute ischemic stroke. Forty-five patients were evaluated after hospital discharge and 15 (33%) showed inattention, disorientation or poorly organized movements in response to the command.⁹³

Psychiatric manifestations associated with coronavirus

Several studies have addressed the impact of COVID-19 on mental health. Psychiatric manifestations can arise due to the direct effects of the virus entering the CNS or to the indirect effects of immune response,⁹⁴ as well as to additional social stressors, which can contribute to the incidence and exacerbation of psychiatric disorders.⁹⁵

Preclinical studies have shown an association between depressive-like behavior and high levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha in the brain in an experimental model of pneumococcal meningitis.⁹⁶,⁹⁷ Persistent inflammatory response and behavioral deficits have been observed in adult offspring of female rats submitted to maternal immune activation, which suggests that inflammation could increase the risk of psychiatric disorders.⁹⁸ In fact, previous studies support that immune response participates in the pathophysiology of mental illnesses such as depression, bipolar disorders,⁹⁹-¹⁰¹ and suicidal behavior.¹⁰²,¹⁰³ Specifically regarding COVID-19, Ruan et al.¹⁰⁴ showed that patients affected by the virus have high levels of inflammatory markers, which were predictors of mortality due to the disease. A potential link between inflammation due to COVID-19 and psychiatric manifestations has also been demonstrated in the literature. Gouse et al.¹⁰⁵ reported a case in which a patient admitted with COVID-19 symptoms presented clinical signs of catatonia (mutism, posturing, staring, verbigeration, grimacing, echolalia, stereotypy, rigidity, waxy flexibility, automatic obedience, echolalia) along with peaking proinflammatory markers. Mazza et al. investigated the role of inflammatory markers in anxiety and depression among COVID-19 survivors.¹⁰⁶ A total of 402 adults (65.9% male, age range 18-87 years) with COVID-19 were assessed while in the emergency department (clinical and laboratory evaluation) and about 30 days after hospital treatment (psychiatric assessment). It was found that more than half of the patients presented psychiatric symptoms in the pathological range of at least one psychopathological dimension. Moreover, the baseline systemic immune-inflammation index (platelets × neutrophils/lymphocytes) was positively associated with depression and anxiety scores.¹⁰⁶ A similar finding was reported by Hu et al.,¹⁰⁷ in which patients with COVID-19 presented a high frequency of depressive (45.9%), anxiety (38.8%), and insomnia (54.1%) symptoms, which were positively and significantly associated with higher levels of IL-1β.

The social stressors associated with the pandemic, including physical distancing as a mechanism to prevent its spread, financial issues, and the quarantine itself, can lead to an additional risk of psychiatric disorders.¹⁰⁸ Biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors could also interact to determine the impact of the COVID-19 on mental health.¹⁰⁹ A representative panel survey published by the Center for Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Laboratory Services of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported an increase in the prevalence of anxiety disorder (approximately three times), depressive disorder (approximately four times), and suicidal ideation (approximately two times) during June 24-30, 2020 compared to previous years (2018 or 2019).¹¹⁰ Regarding the latter, the findings were remarkable among young adults (18-34 years old) and those who had not completed high school, with 25.5 and 30%, respectively, reporting that had seriously considered suicide in the past 30 days.¹¹⁰ Krishnamoorthy et al.¹¹¹ reviewed the prevalence of mental disorders, psychiatric symptoms, and mental distress among COVID-19 patients, healthcare workers, and the general population during the COVID-19 pandemic. The pooled effect size for patients with COVID-19 was larger than that of healthcare workers or the general population for depression (42, 25, and 24%, respectively), anxiety (37, 24, and 26%, respectively), post-traumatic stress symptoms (96, 13, and 15%, respectively), and poor sleep quality (82, 43, and 34%, respectively).¹¹¹ Considering 12-month mood disorder and anxiety prevalences of 9.5 and 18.1%, respectively, from a 2001-2003 U.S. survey, the rates reported by Krishnamoorthy et al. during the COVID-19 pandemic¹¹¹ are substantial.¹¹² The apparent higher risk of psychiatric disorders among patients with COVID-19 raises concerns about the safety of available treatments, especially pharmacological treatments. An international, multi-disciplinary working group of experts published evidence-based recommendations for the appropriate management of psychotropics in patients with COVID-19.¹¹³ It recommended special care regarding the potential interaction between COVID-19 treatments and psychotropic medications, the risk of respiratory depression, cardiovascular effects, and thromboembolism, in addition evaluating the dosage of patients currently in treatment.¹¹³ Clinicians should also consider evidence-based telehealth psychotherapeutic and psychoeducation interventions due to their efficacy and feasibility.¹¹⁴,¹¹⁵

In an editorial, da Silva et al.⁹⁵,¹¹⁶ identified some mental health topics worthy of attention, including inadequate access to health services, especially in developing countries. A recent retrospective cohort study by Williams et al.¹¹⁷ showed that between March 1 and May 31, 2020, the first diagnosis of psychiatric problems was 50% lower than expected based on previous years, which suggests considerable underdiagnosis. The authors warned of a potential overload in the mental health system due to reduced access during the pandemic.

Longitudinal studies are necessary to evaluate the biological and environmental risk factors, as well as the protective interventions, that have shaped the impact of COVID-19 on mental health. Regarding protective factors, institutional support and resilience were found as mediators of the relationship between COVID-19-related stressors and psychological distress, which suggests the potential benefits of interventions that address both during a public health emergency.¹¹⁸ In a study of medical workers during the COVID-19 outbreak, resilience was negatively correlated with depression and anxiety and was positively correlated with active coping styles.¹¹⁹ Some programs have been implemented to build resilience, such as the Mount Sinai Center for Stress, Resilience, and Personal Growth,¹²⁰ the Psychological Resilience Model,¹²¹ and CopeColumbia.¹²² Some of these initiatives include principles from psychotherapeutic interventions, such as cognitive-behavioral and acceptance and commitment therapies. Interestingly, a systematic review on the association between psychological interventions and immune system function found decreased proinflammatory cytokines and increased immune cell counts over time following treatment, especially for cognitive behavior therapy and multiple or combined psychosocial interventions.¹²³ Moutier¹²⁴ argues that this is a moment when evidence-based strategies for suicide prevention should be prioritized and maximized in the public health agenda at the community and federal levels. Despite the severe consequences associated with the pandemic, the knowledge acquired during this period can provide positive lessons for the field of mental health, both in terms of primary prevention and intervention.¹²⁵

Conclusion

In conclusion, it must be pointed out that with the increasing number SARS-CoV-2 infections and the pandemic’s potentially long-lasting social stressors, many patients will have neurological and psychiatric manifestations that could result in a considerable burden for these individuals, their families, and society. Psychiatric symptoms will not be limited only to patients affected by COVID-19, since environmental stressors are highly associated with the etiology and pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders.¹²⁶,¹²⁷

Although clinical and epidemiological studies and diagnosing brain disease associated with SARS-CoV-2 can be challenging, they are necessary to help define the COVID-19 burden during and after the pandemic.

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense (UNESC), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), and Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa e Inovação de Santa Catarina (FAPESC). APD is supported by the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation (NARSAD) Young Investigator Grant.

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  10 Feb 2021
• Date of issue
  Nov-Dec 2021

History

• Received
  7 Sept 2020
• Accepted
  9 Dec 2020