Bell’s palsy and SARS-CoV-2 vaccines


Authors: 24 FEB 2021  The Lancet Ozonoff et al. There is a possible increased risk of developing Bell’s palsy in COVID-19 mRNA vaccine recipients, but the rate was extremely low (7 cases in 40,000 participants vaccinated), and was not statistically significantly different than the rate seen in the placebo recipients. This condition usually self-resolves. Preventing the risk […]

Bell’s palsy following COVID-19 vaccination


Authors: Giuseppe Colella,1Massimiliano Orlandi,2 and Nicola Cirillo1,3 Currently two Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines have been granted emergency use and marketing authorization by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) [1, 2]. Initial efficacy and safety data for both BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) and mRNA-1273 (Moderna) vaccines have been published [3, 4]. To the best […]

SARS-CoV-2 mediated neuroinflammation and the impact of COVID-19 in neurological disorders


Authors: Narayanappa Amruta,a Wesley H. Chastain,a Meshi Paz,a Rebecca J. Solch,b Isabel C. Murray-Brown,a Jaime B. Befeler,a Timothy E. Gressett,a Michele T. Longo,b,c Elizabeth B. Engler-Chiurazzi,a,c and Gregory Bixa,b,c,* Abstract SARS-CoV-2 is a novel coronavirus that severely affects the respiratory system, is the cause of the COVID-19 pandemic, and is projected to result in the deaths of 2 million people worldwide. Recent reports suggest that […]

Studies: COVID tied to persistent cognitive deficits in seniors


Authors: Mary Van Beusekom | News Writer | CIDRAP News  | Jul 30, 2021 New studies show an association between COVID-19 and cognitive impairment in older patients, with one reporting memory problems and worse physical health 8 months after diagnosis and others finding cognitive decline and accelerated Alzheimer’s disease symptoms as long as 6 months after infection. […]

Insights into How SARS-CoV-2 Causes Brain Pathology


Authors: Anthony L. Komaroff, MD, reviewing Yang AC et al. Nature 2021 Jul Marshall M. Nature 2021 Jul In deceased COVID-19 patients, gene expression in the choroid plexus was altered. People infected with SARS-CoV-2 can develop a wide variety of neurological conditions: Endothelial dysfunction can lead to ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes, even in young adults. Demyelinating diseases occur. Autoantibodies that […]

SARS-CoV-2 Infects the Brain Choroid Plexus and Disrupts the Blood-CSF Barrier in Human Brain Organoids


Authors: Laura Pellegrini 1, Anna Albecka 1, Donna L Mallery 1, Max J Kellner 1, David Paul 1, Andrew P Carter 1, Leo C James 1, Madeline A Lancaster 2 Abstract Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus, leads to respiratory symptoms that can be fatal. However, neurological symptoms have also been observed in some patients. The cause of these complications is […]

NIH study uncovers blood vessel damage and inflammation in COVID-19 patients’ brains but no infection


Authors: Christopher G. Thomas, 301-496-5751, nindspressteam@ninds.nih.gov Results from a study of 19 deceased patients suggests brain damage is a byproduct of a patient’s illness. In an in-depth study of how COVID-19 affects a patient’s brain, National Institutes of Health researchers consistently spotted hallmarks of damage caused by thinning and leaky brain blood vessels in tissue samples […]

COVID and the brain: researchers zero in on how damage occurs


Authors: Michael Marshall Growing evidence suggests that the coronavirus causes ‘brain fog’ and other neurological symptoms through multiple mechanisms. How COVID-19 damages the brain is becoming clearer. New evidence suggests that the coronavirus’s assault on the brain could be multipronged: it might attack certain brain cells directly, reduce blood flow to brain tissue or trigger […]

Amid delta surge, confusion again reigns


Authors: Carissa Wolf, Douglas Moser, Roxana Popescu and Lenny Bernstein, The Washington Post BOISE, IDAHO – Ben Lemons, an elementary school principal, received a coronavirus vaccine as soon as he could and tries to model safe practices for his students and staff. He masks up. In a state where relatively few have been immunized, he talks […]

Ex-FDA head warns northern US may see COVID spike as schools reopen


Authors: Jackie Salo August 9, 2021 | 2:52pm | Updated Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb warned that Northern US states could see COVID-19 cases rise as students return to the classroom. Gottlieb said the states may not have outbreaks that rival Southern hotspots such as Florida, but they are still vulnerable to climbing case numbers. “I think the […]