COVID-19 patients may have neurological symptoms, but that doesn't mean that SARS-CoV-2 directly attacks the CNS. As noted recently, most neurological symptoms associated with COVID-19 can be explained by vasculopathies and coagulopathies rather than the direct infection of neurons [1]. Such results are consistent with findings from autopsies. In contrast, neither of the papers mentioned in the linked article provide any evidence that SARS-CoV-2 is "directly attacking the brain".

[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7328585/