Since older adults have been more severely affected by acute COVID-19, researchers have hypothesised that older adults may have worse long COVID symptoms as well. However, new research published in the Annals of Neurology, an official journal of the American Neurological Association, found that, on average, 10 months after COVID-19 onset, younger (ages 18–44) and middle-aged (ages 45–64) adults experienced worse neurological symptoms of long COVID than adults aged 65 and older. Symptoms included headache, numbness and tingling, problems with smell and taste, blurred vision, depression, anxiety, insomnia, fatigue, and a decrease in cognitive function. These symptoms occurred regardless of whether the patient had mild or severe COVID-19 infections.
“While deaths from COVID-19 continue to decrease, people still get repetitive infections with the virus and may develop long COVID along the way,” said Igor Koralnik, MD, chief of neuroinfectious diseases and global neurology at Northwestern Medicine, who oversees the Neuro COVID-19 Clinic and is the co-director of the Northwestern Medicine Comprehensive COVID-19 Center. “Long COVID is causing an alteration in patients’ quality of life. Despite vaccinations and boosters, about 30 per cent of COVID patients develop some long COVID symptoms. These findings have an immense public health impact, given that long COVID significantly contributes to the leading global burden of disability and disease caused by neurological disorders.”
STUDY HIGHLIGHTS
- The study included the first 1,300 patients at the Northwestern Medicine Neuro COVID-19 Clinic with neurological long COVID symptoms between May 2020 and March 2023.
- Among those patients, 200 had been previously hospitalised for severe COVID-19 pneumonia, while the rest had mild initial COVID-19 symptoms and never required hospitalisation.
- This is the first study to examine neurological symptoms of long COVID across the adult lifespan.
- The goal was to determine whether the neurological symptoms of long COVID affect adults differently based on their age group.
“The impact of long COVID is causing disproportionate morbidity and disability in younger adults in their prime, who provide much of the workforce, productivity, and innovation in our society. This may have a negative impact on the economy and cause additional burden on the healthcare system. This study highlights the importance of ensuring people of all ages suffering from long COVID are provided with the necessary treatment and rehabilitation services to alleviate their symptoms and improve their quality of life.”
Igor Koralnik
Read more: The adapted Autonomic Profile (aAP) home-based test for the evaluation of neuro-cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction
The self-report version and digital format of the COVID-19 Yorkshire Rehabilitation Scale (C19-YRS) for Long COVID or Post-COVID syndrome assessment and monitoring
