The neurobiology of long COVID

Persistent neurological and neuropsychiatric symptoms affect a substantial fraction of people after COVID-19 and represent a major component of the post-acute COVID-19 syndrome, also known as long COVID. Here, we review what is understood about the pathobiology of post-acute COVID-19 impact on the CNS and discuss possible neurobiological underpinnings of the cognitive symptoms affecting COVID-19 survivors. We propose the chief mechanisms that may contribute to this emerging neurological health crisis. Persistent neurological symptoms affect a substantial fraction of people after COVID-19 and represent a major component of long COVID. Here, Monje and Iwasaki review what is understood about the neurobiological underpinnings of long COVID cognitive symptoms.