Image by Engin Akyurt from Pixabay
Image by Engin Akyurt from Pixabay

NEWS BRIEFING: Neurological consequences of COVID-19: The ‘Silent Wave’

Embargoed until: Publicly released:
Peer-reviewed: This work was reviewed and scrutinised by relevant independent experts.

Systematic review: This type of study is a structured approach to reviewing all the evidence to answer a specific question. It can include a meta-analysis which is a statistical method of combining the data from multiple studies to get an overall result.

Literature review: This type of work involves summarising the literature that has previously been published on a topic.

**ONLINE BRIEFING - recording now available ** Is the world prepared for a wave of neurological consequences that may be on its way as a result of COVID-19? This question is at the forefront of research underway at the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health. A team of neuroscientists and clinicians are examining the potential link between COVID-19 and increased risk of Parkinson’s disease, and measures to get ahead of the curve. In a review paper to be published on Wednesday, researchers have put the spotlight on the potential long-term neurological consequences of COVID-19, dubbing it the ‘silent wave’.

Journal/conference: Journal of Parkinson's Disease

Research: Paper

Organisation/s: Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health

Funder: The research team are funded by grants from the National Health and Medical Research Council

Media release

From: Australian Science Media Centre

*Briefing recording now available*

Is the world prepared for a wave of neurological consequences that may be on its way as a result of COVID-19? This question is at the forefront of research underway at the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health. A team of neuroscientists and clinicians are examining the potential link between COVID-19 and increased risk of Parkinson’s disease, and measures to get ahead of the curve. In a review paper to be published on Wednesday, researchers have put the spotlight on the potential long-term neurological consequences of COVID-19, dubbing it the ‘silent wave’.

Join us for this online briefing as they call for urgent action to be taken to have available more accurate diagnostic tools to identify neurodegeneration early on, advance neuroprotective treatments underway and establish long-term monitoring of people who have been infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

The briefing will discuss the following issues:

  • Proposed link between SARS-CoV-2 virus and Parkinson’s disease
  • National screening proposal for earlier diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease
  • Development of neuroprotective therapies underway

Speakers:

  • Leah Beauchamp is a PhD Candidate in the Neurotherapeutics Laboratory at the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health
  • Professor Kevin Barnham is Head of the Neurotherapeutics Laboratory at the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health

Date: Tue 22 Sep 2020
Start Time: 11:00am AEST
Duration: 30 mins 
Venue: Online

Attachments:

Note: Not all attachments are visible to the general public

  • Australian Science Media Centre
    Web page
    Full briefing recording

News for:

Australia
International
VIC

Multimedia:

  • Florey researchers Professor Kevin Barnham and Ms Leah Beauchamp_1
    Florey researchers Professor Kevin Barnham and Ms Leah Beauchamp_1

    Florey researchers Professor Kevin Barnham and Ms Leah Beauchamp in lab

    File size: 4.4 MB

    Attribution: The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health

    Permission category: © - Only use with this story

    Last modified: 08 Jul 2025 11:16pm

    NOTE: High resolution files can only be downloaded here by registered journalists who are logged in.

  • Florey researchers Professor Kevin Barnham and Ms Leah Beauchamp_2
    Florey researchers Professor Kevin Barnham and Ms Leah Beauchamp_2

    Florey researchers Professor Kevin Barnham and Ms Leah Beauchamp look at a smell test tool for early diagnosis

    File size: 3.9 MB

    Attribution: The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health

    Permission category: © - Only use with this story

    Last modified: 08 Jul 2025 11:16pm

    NOTE: High resolution files can only be downloaded here by registered journalists who are logged in.

  • Florey researchers Professor Kevin Barnham_1
    Florey researchers Professor Kevin Barnham_1

    Florey researcher Professor Kevin Barnham explains brain images showing the progressive loss of cells in Parkinson's disease and the early stage at which treating can be more effective.

    File size: 514.6 KB

    Attribution:

    Permission category: © - Only use with this story

    Last modified: 08 Jul 2025 11:16pm

    NOTE: High resolution files can only be downloaded here by registered journalists who are logged in.

Show less
Show more

Media contact details for this story are only visible to registered journalists.