Ayesha Akter

Ms. Ayesha Akter

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

1Year (2026-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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6 January 2026 in Neuroglia
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
MAMd. Aktaruzzaman
Md. Aktaruzzaman
FRFarazi Abinash Rahman
Farazi Abinash Rahman
AAAyesha Akter
Ayesha Akter
MSMd. Hasan Jafre Shovon
Md. Hasan Jafre Shovon
AHAL RIYAD HASAN
AL RIYAD HASAN
MRMd Obayed Raihan
Md Obayed Raihan
COVID-19 has raised significant concern regarding its neurological impact, particularly during the early pandemic waves when severe systemic inflammation and neuroimmune dysregulation were more common. Although SARS-CoV-2 has been extensively studied, the precise mechanisms underlying its neurological effects remain incompletely understood, and much of the available evidence is derived from early variants with higher pathogenicity. Current research indicates that neuroinflammatory processes—driven primarily by systemic cytokine elevation, microglial activation, and blood–brain barrier dysfunction—contribute to a wide range of neurological symptoms. Severe complications such as encephalopathy, stroke, and cognitive impairment were predominantly reported in critically ill patients infected with the Wuhan, Alpha, or Delta variants, while such manifestations are considerably less frequent in the Omicron era. Most proposed mechanisms, including ACE2-mediated viral entry into the central nervous system, are supported mainly by experimental or preclinical studies rather than definitive human evidence. Biomarkers such as IL-6 and TNF-α, along with neuroimaging modalities including MRI and PET, offer useful but indirect indicators of neuroinflammation. Therapeutic approaches continue to focus on controlling systemic inflammation through immunomodulatory agents, complemented by targeted non-pharmacological strategies—such as physical rehabilitation, cognitive support, and psychological interventions—for the minority of patients with persistent neurological deficits. Overall, current evidence supports a variant-dependent neuroinflammatory profile and underscores the need for longitudinal, mechanism-focused studies to better characterize long-term neurological outcomes and refine therapeutic strategies.