SARS-Cov-2 Associated Neurocognitive Decline Scan

At a great disservice to those who are experiencing neurological complications as a result of their chronic SARS-Cov-2 infection, both the media and medical community have framed SARS-Cov-2 Associated Neurocognitive Decline as "brain fog." In doing so, they have left an untold number of individuals to suffer in silence while their autonomy disappears, along with our intellectual capital.

In light of the fact that SARS-Cov-2 and HIV share the same mechanism of Central Nervous System reservoir seeding, as well as lymphocytopenia, the science behind the SAND Scan borrows from over forty years of research into the pathophysiology and management of HIV Associated Neurocognitive Decline

We provide our clients with the following:

  • Neurocognitive Assessment
  • Access To BrainHQ For Neuroplasticity Exercises
  • In the near future, we will offer voxel based morphometry using our proprietary software program

About SARS-Cov-2 Associated Neurocognitive Decline

In SARS-CoV-2 infection and persistence throughout the human body and brain, Dr. Daniel Chertow was joined by others and provided the results of eleven autopsies. Following are all of the regions for which viral persistence was observed.

Basal Ganglia

When insulted, one might experience a difference in eye movements, motivation, decision making, and their working memory.

Cerebral Cortex

Comprised of six layers of neurons (containing a whopping fourteen to sixteen billion individual neurons), when there is injury to the portion of the brain, one can expect to see a difference in language, memory, reasoning, thought, learning, decision-making, emotion, intelligence, and personality.

Medulla Oblongata

Connecting your brain to your spinal cord, in the event this portion of your brain has been impacted can lead to a whole host of issues. You might experience disturbances in your ability to regulate your heart rate, your circulation, and breathing.

Other individuals might experience other signs and symptoms that fall under the umbrella of dysautonomia, which means that there is a dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system, which is responsible for the coordination of all involuntary physiological processes that take place in the human body.

For some, injury to this area may present as trouble swallowing, trouble tasting, ringing in the ears. The reason for this is that all twelve cranial nerves pass through the medulla and the fact that evidence suggests the cranial nerves are infected with virus.

It is at the medulla that a process of decussation takes place. This process of nerves crossing over explains why the left side of our brain controls the right side of our body. Disturbances in the "crossover" would frustrate the ability to control voluntary movements depending upon where the damage is done.

Cerebellum

Our cerebellum contributes to a great deal. When there is an injury to this area, one can expect difficulty with maintaining balance, coordinating movements, vision, motor learning. Some hypothesis that the cerebellum also contributes to , processing language and mood. The cerebellum is unique in that the left lobe controls the left side of the body, and the same with the right.

Thalamus

Coined the "relay station," with the exception of smell, the thalamus is responsible for processing all information from your senses before relaying to the cerebral cortex for interpretation.

Proper sleep, wakefulness, consciousness, learning, and memory all depend upon a properly functioning thalamus.

Hypothalamus

The hypothalamus is responsible for maintaining homeostasis, which includes regulation of body temperature; blood pressure; hunger and thirst; satiety; mood; sex drive; and finally, sleep.

Corpus Callosum

The corpus callosum is a bundle of nerves that is responsible for connecting the two hemispheres of the brain, injury to this area can manifest physically, cognitively, and through social or behavioral changes.

Physical manifestations include vision impairments; low muscle tone; difficulty feeding; high tolerance for pain; problems sleeping; seizures; hearing impairments; and chronic constipation.

Cognitive complications of injury to this region can include problems reading facial expressions or voice tone; difficulty with problem-solving and complex tasks; lack of ability in assessing risk; difficulty understanding abstract concepts; problems understanding slang or sarcasm; difficulty understanding emotions; providing misinformation believing it is true. Social and behavioral complications of insult to this region may manifest as social immaturity; lack of self-awareness; difficulty understanding social cues; problems understanding others' perspectives; finding it hard to maintain attention; hyperactivity; lack of fear; and obsessive or compulsive behavior.

Basilar Artery

It is the responsibility of the basilar artery to provide blood to the medulla oblongata, cerebellum, and occipital lobes (where vision processing occurs). Injury to the basilar artery can lead to death or disability as a consequence of a stroke.

Meninges

Invasion of the three meninges can lead to viral meningitis.

Our Team

Daniel Brittain Dugger

Founder

Have A Question?

Frequently
Asked Questions

If your question is not addressed, please feel to reach out to our office using any of the means below.
  • What Is Included With A SAND Scan?
    The SAND Scan borrows from the field of HIV medicine and what is currently known about the pathophysiology of HIV Associated Neurocognitive Decline. It is a comprehensive examination of not only an individual's neurocognitive status, but all that contributes to neurocognitive impairment in those who are suffering from a chronic infection for which Central Nervous System reservoir viral persistence has been observed.

    • Interview built upon Dr. Daniel Chertow's paper
    • Cranial Nerve Questionaire
    • Medication & Supplement Screen Based Upon UCSF's List Of Contraindicated Medications For Those Suffering From HIV Associated Neurocognitive Decline
    • Stroop Test
    • Proverbs Test (Borrowed From Neuroanatomy Through Clinical Cases By Hal Blumenfeld, MD,PhD)
    • Montreal Cognitive Assessment (Recognized By The CDC For Measuring Cognitive Impairment For Those Battling A Chronic SARS-Cov-2 Infection)
    Each client will receive a SAND Scan Summary detailing the findings of their neurocognitive assessment, written in SOAP (Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan) format, which is used in the medical field for documentation.
  • How Long Does The SAND Scan Take To Perform?
    The length of time the assessment takes largely depends upon how much information is shared by the individual being screened. Some interviews have only lasted one hour, while others have lasted up to three hours.
  • How Much Does The SAND Scan Cost?
    Our clients pay fifty dollars ($50.00) per hour for neurcognitive assessment testing.
  • Do You Perform In-Person & Virtual SAND Scan Examinations?
    Yes.
  • Do I Need To Prepare For My SAND Scan Examination?
    Yes. The following has been taken from the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Certification Program.

    Prepare Your Environment

    • You will be required to have a webcam on during the entire examination and remain facing the camera during the entire examination process, which will only last for a period of ten minutes.
    • The environment in which you will take the test should be free of all clocks. Any clock showing on your computer screen should be covered up.
    • You should remove anything that might distract you during the test.
    Prepare Yourself

    • The Montreal Cognitive Assessment Training Course suggests that you only have the test administered, if you are none of the following: Stressed, Fatigued, Are Not In A Good Emotional State.
    • Ensure that you are well rested and are not hungry nor thirsty.
    • Ensure that you will not need to take a restroom break, as it is not allowed.
    Additional Preparation

    For those individuals who are able to provide their lab results, links to journal articles are provided with the SAND Scan Summary that speaks to the clinical relevance of certain lab values, including IL-10/TNF-a ratio, sCD40L elevated levels, etc.

  • Do You Have A Sample Report?
    Yes. You can view it here.
  • Is It True That You Have Industry Specific Sections That Can Be Added To The Examination?

    Yes.

    Having participated in drawing attention to our diseased criminal justice system for a number of years, I believe that there will be an expansion of what we know as the trial penalty to include what I have coined First Chair Forgetfulness.

    For attorneys who are interested in assessing their ability to retain testimony for the purposes of cross exmaination, trial transcripts will be used to test for encoding and recall deficits that could very well prevent an individual from having their rights inadvertenly infringed upon, possibly opening the door to claims of ineffective counsel and the possibility of legal malpractice litigation.

SAND Sufferers Speak

Following are actual quotes from individuals suffering in silence from SARS-Cov-2 Associated Neurocognitive Decline.
"I dropped out"

51 year old female

"I was super clumsy for a period of time"

51 year old female

"I was an avid reader, cannot read now"

39 year old female

"I like to play games, cannot read instructions for the game"

39 year old female

Articles

  • By Daniel Brittain Dugger

Labs To Pull

This article provides a number of labs for an individual to have obtained in the event that they have contracted SARS-Cov-2. Additionally, the rationale behind their inclusion is provided.
Read More
  • By Daniel Brittain Dugger

Millions Of Americans Would Give Anything To Have SAND Between Their Toes, Instead It Is Between Their Ears

This article makes the argument that "brain fog" is actually neurocognitive decline equal in magnitude to that observed in individuals living with HIV Associated Neurocognitive Decline
Read More
  • By Daniel Brittain Dugger

Why SARS-Cov-2 Is Deserving Of Having The Playbook Used For The Prevention, Treatment, And Management Of HIV Applied To It

From failed vaccines to an all but identitical pathophysioligcal presentation, this article discusses the similarities between SARS-Cov-2 and HIV.
Read More