Neurological manifestations in COVID-19

Very early in the pandemic, the neurological complications of COVID-19 infection became increasingly evident. Initially, there were the tell-tale symptoms of anosmia and dysgeusia, but the neurological presentations became more diverse and non-specific, e.g., new-onset headaches and first-time seizures. Central nervous system involvement beyond disorders of taste and smell was quickly followed by patterns of peripheral nerve injury: from simple post-viral Bell's palsy to the more florid acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathies. Moreover, with the roll- out of the much-anticipated vaccinations against SARS-Co-V2, deterioration of pre- existing neurological conditions occurred as a consequence, particularly neuromuscular diseases such as myasthenia. As millions of people have become infected globally, the impact of long COVID-19 is now being felt, predominated by brain fog, lethargy, cognitive issues, and psychiatric disturbances, and poses a huge public health challenge for years to come. In this chapter, we will cover the protean ways in which the pandemic has changed the neurological landscape and the possible mechanisms behind them and offer potential solutions.