About this Research Topic
This Research Topic focuses on the implication of neuroinflammation, notably mediated by microglia and astrocytes, in the neuropsychiatric and neurological aspects of COVID-19. Potential topics are not limited to:
1) how microglia and astrocytes exert together their beneficial functions, in coordination with oligodendrocytes and the neurovascular unit
2) how microglia, astrocytes and CNS-infiltrating immune cells become reactive when challenged by viral infection with COVID-19, thus resulting in neuroinflammation and changes in brain circuits leading to neuropsychiatric or neurological disorders
3) how microglia, astrocytes and infiltrating immune cells that are challenged with COVID-19 infection deal with stress, pollution, dietary imbalance, trauma, injury, as well as aging
4) the consequences of social isolation and psychological stress, in combination COVID-19 infection
Together, this knowledge will contribute to developing better-targeted therapies to preserve, improve or restore learning and memory, cognitive flexibility, stress resilience, sleep, metabolic fitness, and adaptation, among other essential CNS functions.
Keywords: microglia, neuroinflammation, COVID-19, astrocytes, neuropsychiatric disease, neurological disorder
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