Post-acute COVID-19 neurological syndrome: a new medical 2 challenge

In December 2019, inWuhan (China), a highly pathogenic coronavirus, named SARS-CoV-2,
dramatically emerged. This new virus, which causes severe pneumonia, is rapidly spreading around
the world, hence it provoked the COVID-19 pandemic. This emergency launched by SARS-CoV-2
also had, and still has, devastating socio-economic aspects. Assessing the impact of COVID-19
on vulnerable groups of people is crucial for the adaptation of governments' responses. Growing
scientific evidence suggests that it is essential to keep the attention on people after acute SARSCoV-
2 infection; indeed, some clinical manifestations are frequently present even after recovery.
There is consensus on the need to define which symptoms persist after the infection and which
disabilities may arise after COVID-19. Recent reviews, case reports, and original contributions
suggest that various organs may be affected, and neurological symptoms are present in about one
third of patients with COVID-19. Neurological complications after severe COVID-19 infection might
include delirium, brain inflammation, stroke, and nerve damage. In the recent pandemic, neurologists
and neurobiologists have a chance to study key features of infection neurology. Furthermore, the
psychological impact of the pandemic should not be underestimated, although there is currently no
definition for this condition.