Postcovid syndrome — a new reality

Abstract

The second year of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) pandemic has seen the need to identify and assess the long-term consequences of a SARS-CoV-2 (Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2) infection on an individual's, including adequate cognitive functioning. This review is attempting to highlight the current understanding of the various direct and indirect mechanisms of nervous system damage, describing the causality of similar symptoms following SARS-CoV-2 infection. This understanding is essential to establish the long-term consequences from the disease (including the potential for increased risk of dementia in some cases) and to identify means of preventing or ameliorating the brain damage. There is urgent need for research to better understand the pathogenesis of neurological disturbances in COVID-19, some of which have probably been covert and the prevalence of which may be considerably underestimated. Neuropsychiatric monitoring follow-up of COVID-19 patients will be important in determining the extent and prevalence of long-term neurological and psychiatric consequences of COVID-19. Early intervention for emerging these problems will be critical for improving quality of life for many COVID-19 survivors.