A preliminary study of patients hospitalised with COVID-19 has found the disease can damage the brain, causing complications such as stroke, inflammation, psychosis and dementia-like symptoms in some severe cases. The study, published in the Lancet Psychiatry journal on Thursday, looked in detail at 125 cases from across the UK. The most common brain complication seen was stroke, which was reported in 77 of 125 patients. The study also found that 39 of the 125 patients showed signs of confusion or changes in behaviour reflecting an altered mental state. Of these, nine had unspecified brain dysfunction, known as encephalopathy, and seven had inflammation of the brain, or encephalitis.

Source: Otago Daily Times June 25, 2020 22:30 UTC