How COVID-19 can cause lasting loss of smell and brain problems
Olfactory and neurological manifestations of acute and post-acute murine COVID-19
Using a mouse model, researchers are looking at why COVID-19 can cause long-lasting loss of smell and neurological symptoms.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Iowa NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Iowa City, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11224072 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project uses a mouse-adapted form of SARS-CoV-2 that produces acute lung disease and longer-term changes in the brain and smell function. Researchers infect mice, follow them for months after the initial illness, and test smell ability, behavior, and brain chemistry. They examine tissues for inflammation and look for virus or viral remnants, even when virus is not detectable in the brain. The goal is to understand how infection of supporting cells in the nose could lead to prolonged anosmia and other neurological symptoms.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with persistent loss of smell or ongoing cognitive/neurological symptoms after COVID-19 are the most likely to benefit from the findings and could be candidates for future related human studies.
Not a fit: Patients who had only brief, fully recovered COVID-19 without lingering smell or neurological issues are unlikely to see direct benefit from this specific animal-focused work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal immune or inflammatory causes of long COVID smell and brain problems and point to targets for treatments to restore smell and reduce neurological symptoms.
How similar studies have performed: Other animal studies have shown COVID-related anosmia and brain inflammation, but the exact mechanisms remain uncertain, so this work builds on prior models to clarify cause-and-effect.
Where this research is happening
Iowa City, United States
- University of Iowa — Iowa City, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Perlman, Stanley — University of Iowa
- Study coordinator: Perlman, Stanley
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.