Environmental pollutant exposure can exacerbate COVID-19 neurologic symptoms

Neurologic symptoms have been reported in some COVID-19 patients. However, little is known on what factors influence the risk of developing these symptoms. While some studies suggest that exposure to pollution is associated with higher rates of SARS-CoV-2 infection, its role is unknown in the develo...

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Veröffentlicht in:Medical hypotheses 2020-11, Vol.144, p.110136-110136, Article 110136
Hauptverfasser: Reyes, Michael Sigfrid S., Medina, Paul Mark B.
Format: Artikel
Sprache:eng
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Zusammenfassung:Neurologic symptoms have been reported in some COVID-19 patients. However, little is known on what factors influence the risk of developing these symptoms. While some studies suggest that exposure to pollution is associated with higher rates of SARS-CoV-2 infection, its role is unknown in the development of neurologic symptoms in COVID-19 patients. The response of the central nervous system (CNS) to a SARS-CoV-2 infection may be influenced by its inflammatory state. Interestingly, environmental pollutants such as particulate matter may have neuroinflammatory effects, providing a possible link between exposure to these pollutants and the outcome of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the CNS. This article explores the hypothesis that the neurologic symptoms in COVID-19 may be exacerbated through a neuroinflammatory mechanism that is promoted by environmental pollutant exposure.
ISSN:0306-9877
1532-2777
1532-2777
DOI:10.1016/j.mehy.2020.110136