Editor’s note: We shifted our article format last week to include research updates on our website, while we highlight upcoming events and advocacy opportunities in our newsletter and on social media (Twitter, Instagram, Bluesky).
- A new study in Science found noticeable differences in the blood proteins of people with Long Covid compared to controls. They identified proteins involved in immune responses, inflammation, and blood clotting; the findings could lead to potential biomarkers and targeted therapies for Long Covid. “In addition to offering a basis for new diagnostic solutions, our work provides support for clinical research on complement modulators for patients suffering from Long Covid,” the study’s authors wrote. Read more about the study in this write-up in STAT.
- A recent review in AJPM found that nonpharmaceutical interventions including masking, shelter-in-place orders, and school and business closures were generally effective in mitigating the impact of COVID-19 health outcomes during the first wave of the pandemic. “Policymakers should be aware of both the scale of their effectiveness and duration of impact when adopting these measures for future Covid-19 waves,” the reviewers wrote, noting that both mis- and disinformation have been spread about these important interventions on social media.
- Lastly, a new study in Cell Stem Cell may shed light on our understanding of neurological symptoms in Long Covid. SARS-CoV-2 can infect dopamine neurons in the brain causing senescence, meaning a cell can no longer divide or grow. Similar damage to dopamine neurons is also found in Parkinson’s disease, the study’s authors wrote. Their findings suggest potential targets for neuroprotective drugs for Covid-19 and Long Covid, as well as “the need for careful, long-term monitoring of neurological problems in COVID-19 patients.”
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