Coronavirus

Brazilian researcher explores effects of Covid-19 on brain function

Brazilian researcher explores effects of Covid-19 on brain function
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Marcelo M. S. Lima, associate professor at the Physiology Department of the Federal University of Paraná, published a recent article suggesting that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, may have severe effects on the human brain. He quotes that some 36.4 percent of patients suffer some form of cerebral complications, a rate that rises to 45.5 percent among severe cases.

The alert toward potential brain complications is the temporary loss of sense of smell reported by a large number of patients, says the researcher. The ability to smell is regulated by the central nervous system, suggesting that the coronavirus may be using smell receptors as an entryway into human organisms.

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