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Doctors are discovering the effects of COVID-19 on the brain and how inflammation from the virus plays a role.“There’s some conditions that’s thought to be the virus itself affecting the brain, and then there’s many other things that’s from the immune system, our own bodies, mechanisms against COVID-19 attacking the brain,�� said Danny Samkutty, a neurologist at OU Health in Oklahoma City.Samkutty said although cases surrounding direct effects on the brain are rare, over the past year, they’ve seen more and more reports coming in.“It seems to overall affect the lungs more, but when it does affect the brain directly, one of the theories is that it can go directly through the nasal cavity and reach the brain that way,�� Samkutty said. “The vast majority of the more serious ones happens in patients that have to be hospitalized, either just in normal room or intensive care unit. But there are patients who may not have been very sick from COVID or who are just asymptomatic or even if they have serious infection, that can also develop neurological symptoms down the line.”Signs to look out for include impaired memory and poor concentration. Samkutty said you shouldn’t chance it and should call a doctor if you're feeling off.He added that the best way to protect yourself is by continuing to follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines and getting vaccinated.“Many of the conditions that are in the brain are conditions that already exist that aren’t specific to COVID,�� Samkutty said. “But once we diagnose it, then we can discuss specific treatment for it.��