The coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic has been linked to an increased prevalence of mental health disorders,particularly anxiety and depression.Moreover,the COVID-19 pandemic has caused stress in people worldwide due to several factors,including fear of infection;social isolation;difficulty in adapting to new routines;lack of coping methods;high exposure to social media,misinformation,and fake reports;economic impact of the measures implemented to slow the contagion and concerns regarding the disease pathogenesis.COVID-19 patients have elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines,such as interleukin(IL)-1β,IL-6,and tumor necrosis factor-α,and other inflammation-related factors.Furthermore,invasion of the central nervous system by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2)may potentially contribute to neuroinflammatory alterations in infected individuals.Neuroinflammation,a consequence of psychological stress due to the COVID-19 pandemic,may also play a role in the development of anxiety and depressive symptoms in the general population.Considering that neuroinflammation plays a significant role in the pathophysiology of depression and anxiety,this study investigated the effects of SARS-CoV-2 on mental health and focused on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the neuroinflammatory pathways.
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