Long COVID is associated with active inflammatory changes in the nervous system, but the condition is distinct from Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders, according to a Rutgers Health study. The study, published in Cell Reports Medicine, was one of the most detailed investigations into “brain fog,” a common long COVID symptom in which patients experience difficulty thinking or concentrating. Researchers examined people who recovered from COVID-19 in the New York City-New Jersey area to better understand the factors that impact long COVID.
The condition encompasses a wide range of health problems that people experience after being infected with COVID-19 including brain fog, fatigue, shortness of breath, headaches and sleep problems, among other symptoms, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The symptoms may be difficult to explain and manage because of limited understanding of the condition.
“Participating in this research study helped validate everything I was feeling, including the brain fog,” said a Rutgers Health study participant, who has been struggling with long COVID symptoms for over three years. “It’s so important for people to consider clinical trials so we can get accurate information about long COVID, and people can go on to do whatever is necessary to help them improve.” To read the full story.