#LongCovid

For 16-year-old Molly from Weymouth, every day presents a battle—one that began four years ago when she first developed long Covid. From severe fatigue and heart palpitations to fainting spells, seizures, and even allergic reactions, Molly describes her experience as “horrible”, with basic activities now requiring a wheelchair and “two good days a week, maybe three”. With dedicated NHS long Covid support for young people in Dorset shuttered, Molly is preparing to journey 300 miles to Liverpool for private treatment, illuminating a broader crisis faced by young long Covid patients and raising urgent questions about national and global responses to this lingering pandemic (BBC).

A new wave of scientific concern is growing over emerging evidence that COVID-19 may be accelerating cognitive decline, raising the question: Is the coronavirus fundamentally changing the way we age? Doctors and researchers worldwide are alarmed by signs that surviving COVID-19 could hasten processes typically associated with aging brains—including earlier onset and greater severity of memory loss, confusion, and other neurological symptoms. These revelations, based on increasingly robust research, are already reshaping conversations about health, aging, and long-term care in Thailand and worldwide (WSJ).

Emerging research reveals intriguing insights into the often-debilitating phenomenon known as brain fog, a symptom linked with various chronic illnesses and conditions. As COVID-19 swept the globe, the term “brain fog” gained prominence, particularly among those suffering from long COVID, with estimates suggesting that 20 to 65 percent of these individuals experience it ¹. Beyond its association with COVID, brain fog is also recognized in communities dealing with chronic illnesses such as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and lupus, attracting interest and concern among healthcare professionals and patients alike.