Tag

Long Covid

All articles tagged with #long covid

health9 days ago•8 min saved

New Studies Link Long COVID Fatigue to Reduced Brain Blood Flow and Dopamine Neuron Loss

Two recent studies identify distinct biological mechanisms behind persistent fatigue in long COVID. A Swedish study found reduced cerebral blood flow in the brains of fatigued patients, while a Canadian study linked the condition to the loss of dopamine-releasing neurons in the striatum. These findings suggest that neurovascular and dopaminergic disruptions may underpin symptoms like exhaustion, slow movement, and memory issues, potentially guiding future treatments.

via The Conversation|

#brain-blood-flow #dopamine #fatigue

health16 days ago•4 min saved

Study: 11% of US Healthcare Workers Suffer Persistent Long-COVID Symptoms at Six Months

A new study in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine reveals that 11.3% of US healthcare personnel experience persistent moderate or severe long-COVID symptoms at both three and six months post-infection. Fatigue is the most common complaint, with older age, female sex, and multiple underlying conditions significantly increasing risk. The findings highlight a potential strain on healthcare workforce sustainability due to ongoing symptoms requiring accommodations or role changes.

via CIDRAP|

#chronic-illness #epidemiology #health

health-and-medicine18 days ago•7 min saved

Dopamine disruption linked to long COVID brain fog and fatigue

CAMH researchers used PET brain imaging to find reduced markers of dopamine neuron health across striatal regions in people with long COVID, indicating loss of dopamine-releasing neurons that tracks with fatigue, reduced motivation, slower movement, and memory difficulties; the findings point to a dopamine-centered mechanism and could guide new treatments, with a planned clinical trial to test dopamine-boosting approaches alongside inflammation-focused work.

via ScienceDaily|

#brain-imaging #clinical-trial #dopamine

science1 month ago•13 min saved

Autoantibodies and lingering viruses: new leads in fighting post-infection syndromes

Scientists are closing in on why infections trigger long COVID and other post‑infection syndromes, pointing to immune dysfunction, autoantibodies, and viral persistence as key drivers. With massive global burden and funding (RECOVER and international grants), researchers are building shared biomarkers and disease subsets, while trials test antibody‑depleting approaches and antivirals. No universal cure exists yet, but the field is moving toward faster, experimental‑medicine trials and cross‑disease collaborations to identify effective therapies.

via Nature|

#autoantibodies #immune-dysfunction #long-covid

health1 month ago•139 min saved

Severe COVID may awaken dormant viruses, fueling long-COVID questions

A study of 1,154 adults hospitalized with COVID-19 found that severe infection can reactivate dormant viruses in the body, including EBV, CMV, HSV and anelloviruses. Nearly half (about 550 participants) showed at least one reactivation, with different viruses turning on at different times and linking to immune/metabolic changes and persistent long-COVID symptoms in some patients. While these findings suggest a potential role for viral reactivation in disease severity and long COVID, the authors stress that RNA detection shows association, not causation, and call for prospective interventional trials to test whether antiviral treatment could improve outcomes.

via Live Science|

#anelloviruses #covid-19 #ebv

health1 month ago•6 min saved

Dormant viruses awaken during COVID-19, potentially driving severity and long COVID

A study of 1,150 hospitalized COVID-19 patients found reactivation of dormant viruses from the Herpesviridae and Anelloviridae families in about 48% of cases, with HSV1 and CMV reactivating around day 20 and detection in nasal or blood samples linked to greater disease severity and higher 1-year mortality. Notably, Anelloviridae reactivation months after illness was associated with fatigue and disability (long COVID). The study shows association, not causation, and involved unvaccinated patients with early SARS-CoV-2 strains, so more research is needed to understand implications for prognosis and treatment."

via Medical News Today|

#anelloviridae #covid-19 #health

health1 month ago•6 min saved

Dormant viruses wake up in COVID-19 patients, impacting severity and long COVID

A year-long study of over 1,150 hospitalized, unvaccinated COVID-19 patients found that about 48% experienced reactivation of dormant viruses, notably Epstein-Barr virus and cytomegalovirus, with reactivations linked to greater acute severity and higher 1-year mortality in the critically ill; reactivation of Anelloviridae during recovery was associated with long COVID fatigue and disability. The study does not prove causation and has limitations (older SARS-CoV-2 strains, no vaccination status, sampling constraints), but suggests viral reactivation could influence COVID-19 outcomes and may inform risk assessment and future therapies pending further research.

via AOL.com|

#covid-19 #cytomegalovirus #epstein-barr-virus

health1 month ago•3 min saved

Shingles vaccine eases acute pain and cuts long-term risk, with guidance for long COVID care

Shingles can occur even after vaccination, but the shot lowers the severity and duration of acute pain, reduces pain medication use, and, by about 90%, lowers the risk of lingering postherpetic neuralgia. Start antiviral treatment (e.g., valacyclovir) within 24–72 hours of rash onset, and see an ophthalmologist promptly for shingles near the eye. Adults over 50 should get the shingles vaccine unless contraindicated. For long COVID, a COVID vaccine is safe and can prevent future long COVID; recovery is gradual and aided by tailored exercise, good sleep, stress management, and possibly probiotics, with no single magic cure.

via The Detroit News|

#antivirals #health #long-covid

science1 month ago•24 min saved

MRI reveals enduring brain changes in both long COVID patients and recovered individuals

A small multimodal MRI study (47 adults) found lasting brain tissue and neurochemical changes in people with long COVID and those who recovered, compared with never-infected controls. Using myelin-sensitive imaging, diffusion MRI, and MR spectroscopy, researchers observed elevated myelin signals in several regions for both groups, with distinct patterns (higher signals in brainstem and cerebellum for the recovered group; higher signals in the precentral gyrus and middle temporal gyrus for long COVID). Diffusion reductions were noted in various regions, and neurochemical shifts differed (long COVID: higher N-acetyl-aspartate; recovered: higher glutamine). Some myelin measures correlated with physical and cognitive impairment. However, the study is small and cross-sectional, so it cannot establish causality or track changes over time; larger longitudinal work is needed to determine whether these changes are permanent or reversible.

via PsyPost|

#brain-imaging #long-covid #mri

science1 month ago•38 min saved

Severe COVID-19 May Wake Hidden Viruses, Study Shows

A Nature study of 1,154 hospitalized COVID-19 patients across the U.S. and Canada found 11 dormant viruses reactivated within 40 days of admission, including herpes viruses (Epstein–Barr virus, cytomegalovirus) and Anelloviridae; reactivation appeared linked to inflammation and severe illness, with Anelloviridae reactivation associated with long‑term disability and long COVID, though causality is not proven. The findings may inform future diagnostics and treatments, but applicability to milder cases remains uncertain.

via Yahoo News UK|

#covid-19 #epstein-barr-virus #herpes-viruses

health2 months ago•3 min saved

Dormant viruses wake in severe COVID-19 patients, new study suggests

A large multi-center study of 1,154 hospitalized COVID-19 patients found 11 dormant viruses reactivated within 40 days of admission, including Epstein-Barr, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus-1 and Anelloviridae; Anelloviridae reactivation was linked to long COVID and disability, while EBV/CMV reactivation appeared tied to inflammation rather than immune suppression. The study does not prove causation but may help explain long COVID and guide future diagnostics and therapies, though results apply to severe cases only.

via ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos|

#anelloviridae #covid-19 #health

health2 months ago•20 min saved

Brain fog decoded: five surprising causes you might be missing

Brain fog is a non-diagnostic symptom that can stem from several overlooked factors, including gut health issues, lingering effects of long Covid, hormonal changes during menopause, sleep apnea, and thyroid problems; treatments range from dietary tweaks to cognitive rehabilitation as researchers continue to seek effective solutions.

via The Washington Post|

#brain-health #gut-health #health

health2 months ago•5 min saved

Long COVID Linked to 18% Drop in Brain Dopamine Nerve Endings, PET Study Finds

A small PET study (24 long COVID patients and 24 controls) found about an 18% reduction in dopamine nerve endings in the striatum of people with long COVID, with ventral striatum changes linked to lower motivation and dorsal striatum changes tied to slower movement and memory issues. The alterations persisted for up to 4.6 years after infection, suggesting the dopaminergic system as a potential biomarker for diagnosis and a target for treatment. The study’s sample is small, but researchers plan a clinical trial repurposing a dopamine-influencing drug, highlighting the need for validated long COVID therapies and better access to care.

via sciencealert.com|

#dopamine #health #long-covid

science2 months ago•48 min saved

Today’s Everyday Things, Tomorrow’s Health Hazards: Readers Predict the Next Asbestos

A BuzzFeed Community post collects readers’ predictions about which everyday items and habits could be proven harmful in the future, ranging from microplastics and PFAS to AI-driven social media, scented products, vaping, and long-term effects of COVID, highlighting concerns about environmental exposures, consumer goods, and modern lifestyles becoming health risks down the line.

via buzzfeed.com|

#long-covid #microplastics #pfas

health2 months ago•8 min saved

Dormant viruses reawaken in severe COVID, fueling long COVID and autoimmune risks

Nature study of 1,154 hospitalized COVID-19 patients shows severe illness can reactivate dormant viruses (11 viruses detected within 40 days), notably Anelloviridae linked to long COVID, while EBV and CMV reactivation in nasal/blood samples correlate with higher mortality and complications; findings suggest viral reactivation monitoring could help prognosticate and treat acute and long COVID, though causality isn’t proven and more research is planned.

via CIDRAP|

#anelloviridae #autoimmune-disease #covid-19