Neuroimmune Dysfunction Facilitates COVID-19-Associated Neurological Complications

The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 was discovered in 2019 and spread quickly across the globe. Although most people will recover from the resultant respiratory illness COVID-19, many others develop neurological complications or manifestations. The most common nervous system symptom is protracted anosmia, the loss of smell. However, a small percentage of individuals also experience acute cerebrovascular disease caused by disrupted blood flow to the central nervous system, resulting in severe damage and often death. Additionally, despite recovery from acute disease, many people develop post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC), which can last for several months to years following initial recovery of respiratory symptoms. In this chapter, the mechanisms of each of these neurological manifestations of SARS-CoV-2 are reviewed, and emerging opportunities are highlighted for prevention and therapeutic intervention.