COVID-19 and Lockdown’s Impact on Neurological Functions and Mental Health 4

Covid-19 and Lockdown’s Impact on Neurological Functions and Mental Health

Archie Todd-Leask (C1 L6)

Covid-19 affects our bodies not only physically – through areas such as pulmonary, cardio and renal functions (our lungs, heart and kidneys). But also mentally: the widespread introduction of lockdowns and devastatingly high death rates mean that Covid-19 can also take effect on one’s mental health. Furthermore, there have been reports of neurological effects on patients with pre-existing medical conditions.

Covid-19 spreads through the bloodstream to both the central and peripheral nervous systems, though the exact method of this spread is currently an educated guess. This invasion can affect the brain stem (involved in respiration), which consequentially results in a larger rate of respiratory failure.

Evidence has been provided through serological biomarkers1 - which is essentially just an indication through studying the bodily fluids of a patient – of Covid-19’s influence within the brain stem. A further study by a different group of scientists using a MRI scan within 24 hours of death2 signified organ abnormalities within the brain such as haemorrhaging, which is another likely sign of Covid’s interference. Although both of these studies provide strong evidence for Covid-19’s involvement in the central and peripheral nervous system, it does not mean that these identifications are necessarily a direct cause of Covid-19. This essentially means that although there is strong evidence that Covid-19 interacts with the nervous systems, it is still unclear as to whether it causes any actual physical harm to them (this includes neurological functions within your brain).

Covid-19 has been utterly detrimental to the mental well-being of all age groups around the world and has caused unnecessary deaths through increased mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety, as well as physically. Although much data for 2020 has not been released yet, in Belgium the number of cases for euthanasia (2019) exceeded the previous (growing) trend 3 and Australia had euthanasia rates 10 times higher than expected (2020)4. Predictions for rates are said to have increased by as much as 145% 5 in 2020, and it was found that one in five people were likely to develop a form of anxiety or depression after contracting the coronavirus and selfisolating 6. These tragic statistics show the devastating effects that coronavirus has had, and will continue to have, on our mental health, by depriving us of the fundamental human requirement to socialise; nor do they take into consideration the sheer multitude of bereavements that many families and friends have faced and the effects that this also has on their mental health.

Notes: 1 Kanberg, Nelly, et al. ‘Neurochemical Evidence of Astrocytic and Neuronal Injury Commonly Found in COVID-19.’ Neurology, vol. 95, no. 12, 16 June 2020, pp. e1754–e1759, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32546655/, 10.1212/wnl.0000000000010111. Accessed 3 Feb. 2021. 2 Coolen, Tim, et al. ‘Early Postmortem Brain MRI Findings in COVID-19 Non-Survivors.’ Neurology, vol. 95, no. 14, 6 Oct. 2020, pp. e2016–e2027, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32546654/, 10.1212/WNL.0000000000010116. Accessed 3 Feb. 2021. 3 Elflein, John. ‘Belgium: Euthanasia 2002-2018.’ Statista, Nov. 2020, www.statista.com/statistics/1098051/number-of-euthanasia-instances-registeredin-belgium/. Accessed 6 Feb. 2021. 4 enquiries@thetablet.co.uk, The Tablet-w: ‘Euthanasia Deaths 10 Times Higher than Expected.’ The Tablet, 8 Sept. 2020, www.thetablet.co.uk/ news/13341/euthanasia-deaths-10-times-higher-than-expected-. Accessed 6 Feb. 2021. 5 John, Ann, et al. ‘The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Self-Harm and Suicidal Behaviour: A Living Systematic Review.’ F1000Research, vol. 9, 4 Sept. 2020, p. 1097, f1000research.com/articles/9-1097, 10.12688/f1000research.25522.1. Accessed 6 Feb. 2021. 6 Ries, Julia, and Dana Cassell. ‘1 in 5 People with COVID-19 Developed Mental Health Issue.’ Healthline, 12 Nov. 2020, www.healthline.com/healthnews/people-with-covid-19-more-likely-to-develop-depression-anxiety-and-dementia. Accessed 6 Feb. 2021.