Northwestern MedicineNeurologic Manifestations of Long COVID Disproportionately Affect Young and Middle-aged Adults

Recent research from Northwestern Medicine challenges previous assumptions about long COVID’s neurologic impact across age groups. The study, published in the Annals of Neurology, examined 1,300 patients over 10 months and found that adults aged 18-64 experienced more severe neurologic symptoms compared to those 65 and older, regardless of initial COVID-19 severity.

Key Points:

• Younger (18-44) and middle-aged (45-64) adults demonstrated worse neurologic long COVID symptoms than older adults (65+), including headache, sensory issues, cognitive decline, and mental health challenges
• The study evaluated 1,300 patients between May 2020 and March 2023, with 200 previously hospitalized for severe COVID-19 pneumonia
• Approximately 30% of COVID-19 patients develop long COVID symptoms despite vaccination status
• The Northwestern Medicine Neuro COVID-19 Clinic has treated more than 2,800 long-haulers from 44 states
• The findings suggest significant economic implications due to workforce impact, as younger adults represent major contributors to productivity and innovation

“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.”
– Dr. Igor J. Koralnik, Chief of Neuroinfectious Diseases and Global Neurology at Northwestern Medicine

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