From a dry cough to a loss of sense of smell, coronavirus is known to be associated with a range of unpleasant symptoms.
Now, a new study has warned that the virus can also attack the brain cells, leading to delirium and confusion.
Researchers from the Yale School of Medicine found that the virus can infect brain cells before starving neighbouring cells of oxygen.
In the study, the researchers tested the effects of Covid-19 on humans and mice brain samples.
Writing in bioRxiv, the researchers, led by Eric Song explained: “We examined the potential for SARS-CoV-2 to infect neural tissues of both mice and human origin and demonstrate potential consequences of its neuroinvasion.
“Our results suggest that neurologic symptoms associated with COVID-19 may be related to consequences of direct viral invasion of the CNS [central nervous system].”
The study comes shortly after doctors warned of a surge in Covid-19 patients reporting neurological symptoms, including confusion, headaches and even delirium.
Speaking to Healthline, Dr Halim Fadil, a neurologist at Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital, explained: “Many COVID-19 patients have been reported to have neurological symptoms, such as headache, confusion, seizures, and even strokes.”
Delirium usually affects patients who require ventilator support, and is caused by a build-up of carbon dioxide in the body.
Neurologist Dr Kevin Conner explained: “Patients with delirium may have auditory hallucinations, visual hallucinations, disorientation of time and space, agitation, aggression, fluctuating level of consciousness, and impairment of sleep-wake cycle.”
According to Dr Conner, the majority (80%) of patients on intensive care units will experience some level of delirium.
Worryingly, delirium can lead to long-term brain damage, while patients who experience it are also less likely to survive, according to the experts.
