From HIV to SARS-CoV-2 associated neurological disorder (“HAND” to “SAND”): Viral infection as a “time-bomb“ for the aging brain
2026
Highlights
SARS-CoV-2 infections frequently trigger a delayed, multi-organ syndrome called Long Covid.
A subset of symptoms, including cognitive deficits, reflects cerebral dysfunction.
Both the virus and several proteins that it encodes are culprits, due to direct and indirect disruption of the brain
The impact of SARS-CoV-2 on the brain has some major differences to, yet also some important similarities with, that of HIV.
Like HIV, SARS-CoV-2 associated neurological disorder is on a collision course with aging-induced impairment, leading to mutual aggravation.