Long COVID: More on research efforts

What we know about long COVID — from brain fog to physical fatigue : Short Wave "Long COVID has affected every part of my life," said Virginia resident Rachel Beale said at a recent Senate hearing. "I wake up every day feeling tired, nauseous and dizzy. I immediately start planning when I can lay down again." Beale is far from alone. Many of her experiences have been echoed by others dealing with long COVID. It's a constellation of debilitating symptoms that range from brain fog and intense physical fatigue to depression and anxiety. But there's new, promising research that sheds light onto some symptoms. NPR health correspondent Will Stone talks with Short Wave host Regina G. Barber about the state of long COVID research — what we know, what we don't and when we can expect treatments or even cures for it. Have more COVID questions you want us to cover? Email us at ***@***.*** — we'd love to hear from you. NPR

... there's new, promising research that sheds light onto some long COVID symptoms. In one study on physical fatigue, researchers at Vrije University in Amsterdam compared muscle biopsies of patients with and without long COVID and found that the problem lies not with lung or heart functioning, but with the muscles' abilities to take up oxygen in the blood.

And another team of researchers at the University of Pennsylvania were able to pinpoint one possible cause of brain fog: a drop in serotonin levels. They were also able to reverse brain fog symptoms in mice.

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