COVID-19 is a disease caused by a virus called SARS-CoV-2 which was first reported in China at the end of 2019, but soon after the virus spread across the world causing a pandemic. The most common health problems of patients with COVID-19 are caused by a viral infection of lung tissue (so-called viral pneumonia). However, a small number of patients also develop symptoms as a result of brain damage.

In this large study to which many hospitals will contribute brain tissue, we want to find out more about the brain damage caused by this virus. We will look at cells that cause the brain tissue damage (so-called inflammatory cells) and we will use a technique that can detect the virus in brain cells.