The National Institute of Health (NIH) is beginning a series of studies to test possible treatments for ‘brain fog,’ a commonly misunderstood condition of long COVID that affects millions of people.
Brain fog has gained popularity among scientists over the past several months as a term used to describe the loss of attention, memory, mental sharpness, and concentration. Brain fog does not just affect patients who are sick enough to be admitted to a hospital — it can affect anyone who has been infected with the coronavirus. According to a JAMA Network Open Study, nearly half of COVID patients report having poor memory or brain fog, a substantial number when looking at the global impact of the pandemic.
Long COVID, also known as long-haul COVID, is what some people experience within a few months of a COVID-19 diagnosis. Symptoms may be the same or different from symptoms of COVID-19, and sometimes symptoms can reflect those of other diseases, such as chronic fatigue syndrome. Long COVID can also trigger health conditions such as diabetes and kidney disease. Across the United States, over 10,000 people suffer from long COVID and its symptoms.
On July 31, the NIH announced a 1.15 billion dollar RECOVER project, which aims to test and find treatments for patients who have struggled for months with brain fog and similar cognitive symptoms.
“This is a year or two later and smaller in scope than one would hope but nevertheless it’s a step in the right direction,” explains Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly of Washington University in St. Louis. Dr. Al-Aly is not involved with the NIH’s project, but has done research highlighting long COVID’s impact on the population.
So far, the RECOVER program has observed 24,000 patients to help determine the most common and pertinent symptoms. These findings will soon be used in a multi-faceted treatment trial that will look at two items; whether taking a Pfizer antiviral drug Paxlovid for 24 days could ease long COVID and treatments for brain fog and other cognitive problems.
In the coming months, two additional COVID-related studies will open – one will test for sleep problems while the other will target problems with the autonomic nervous system. Additionally, a study on the exercise intolerance and fatigue of patients with long COVID is planned, however, this study is controversial as it indicates that exercise may do more harm than good for certain long COVID cases.
Each NIH trial is enrolling 300 to 900 adult participants but has the potential to expand. Unlike many typical studies that test one treatment at a time, these trials are considered flexible “platform studies” that will allow the National Institute of Health to add potential treatments on a rolling basis.
“We can rapidly pivot,” Dr. Amy Patterson with the NIH explained. A failing treatment can be dropped without ending the entire trial and “if something promising comes on the horizon, we can plug it in.”
While testing continues to advance, doctors urge patients with brain fog and other long COVID symptoms to proper care. The American Medical Association (AMA) suggests that people with brain fog should aim to lead lifestyles centered around healthy eating and sleep cycles, while also pursuing opportunities that reduce stress levels and support emotional health. “It’s important to know that a lot of people are experiencing these symptoms,” said Dr. Sousa, a pulmonologist and critical care physician at Atlantic Medical Group. “Sometimes people find it either hard to come forward and see their doctor or talk to people, but it’s really important that people try to work on recovery and getting better.”
