The recent outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 infections that causes coronavirus-induced disease of 2019 (COVID-19) is the defining and unprecedented global health crisis of our time in both the scale and magnitude. Although the respiratory tract is the primary target of SARS-CoV-2, accumulating evidence suggests that the virus may also invade both the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS) leading to numerous neurological issues including some serious complications such as seizures, encephalitis, and loss of consciousness. Here, we present a comprehensive review of the currently known role of SARS-CoV-2 and identify all the neurological problems reported among the COVID-19 case reports throughout the world. The virus might gain entry into the CNS either through the trans-synaptic route via the olfactory neurons or through the damaged endothelium in the brain microvasculature using the ACE2 receptor potentiated by neuropilin-1 (NRP-1). The most critical of all symptoms appear to be the spontaneous loss of breathing in some COVID-19 patients. This might be indicative of a dysfunction within the cardiopulmonary regulatory centers in the brainstem. These pioneering studies, thus, lay a strong foundation for more in-depth basic and clinical research required to confirm the role of SARS-CoV-2 infection in neurodegeneration of critical brain regulatory centers.

最近爆​​发的 SARS-CoV-2 感染导致 2019 年冠状病毒引发的疾病 (COVID-19)，无论从规模还是规模上来说，都是我们这个时代前所未有的全球健康危机。尽管呼吸道是 SARS-CoV-2 的主要目标，但越来越多的证据表明，该病毒也可能侵入中枢神经系统 (CNS) 和周围神经系统 (PNS)，导致许多神经系统问题，包括一些严重的并发症，例如如癫痫发作、脑炎和意识丧失。在这里，我们对 SARS-CoV-2 目前已知的作用进行了全面回顾，并确定了世界各地 COVID-19 病例报告中报告的所有神经系统问题。该病毒可能通过嗅觉神经元的跨突触途径进入中枢神经系统，或者使用由神经毡蛋白-1 (NRP-1) 增强的 ACE2 受体通过大脑微血管系统中受损的内皮细胞进入中枢神经系统。所有症状中最严重的似乎是一些 COVID-19 患者自发性呼吸停止。这可能表明脑干心肺调节中心存在功能障碍。因此，这些开创性的研究为更深入的基础和临床研究奠定了坚实的基础，以确认 SARS-CoV-2 感染在关键大脑调节中心神经退行性疾病中的作用。