Many thanks to Kenneth Tyler, MD, for sharing his expertise as a specialist in neurologic infections. Dr. Tyler is Professor and Chair of Neurology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO.
You can listen to our discussion here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppSKCo4cvL8
Dr. Tyler recently co-authored a paper on the neurologic complications of COVID-19, “COVID-19: A global threat to the nervous system,” published in the Annals of Neurology, July 2020. You can download this paper for free at this link. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32506549/
Both Dr. Tyler and I come from the same generation of medical training. We are both board-certified in internal medicine and neurology. Dr. Tyler’s interest in infectious disease led to his research on brain infections.
The high infectivity rate of the SARS-CoV-2 virus has created worldwide havoc. While many infected individuals suffer only mild symptoms, others are not so lucky. Dr. Tyler explained that the virus can cause systemic illness that results in neurologic complications. Rarely, the virus even invades the nervous system.
Dr. Tyler emphasized that vaccination is the most powerful tool we have to fight the SARS-CoV-2 virus. I agree. Please do not hesitate to get vaccinated! Dr. Tyler also advised that people should not stress over the specific type of vaccine. All of the FDA-approved vaccines are much better than no vaccine at all! Even though both of us have received the Pfizer vaccine, we continue to wear masks and practice social distancing and hand hygiene. If these measures prevent even one COVID-19-related death, they are well worth the inconvenience.
To learn more about the neurologic complications of COVID-19, please listen to our 20-minute discussion.
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