- COVID-19 may increase the long-term risk of cancer, according to a new pre-print from University of California, San Francisco and National Institutes of Health researchers. Scientists evaluated the blood of nearly 130 participants and found immune and metabolic damage in people with Long COVID, compared to controls. They concluded that COVID-19’s ability to degrade tumor suppression genes alongside other factors may predispose people to develop cancer later in life. Researchers also found increased expressions of other aging-related genes. “These findings parallel patterns seen in chronic infections like HIV, which are known to deplete effective immune surveillance,” Polybio Research Foundation — which supported the research — wrote in a press release.*
- In a new paper, a consensus of 179 international Long COVID experts stated the disease is a “global health crisis” and that clinical trials and research into pediatric Long COVID are urgent priorities. “It is important to note that the burden of post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 may go beyond what is currently referred to as Long COVID,” the study’s authors wrote. “The consensus on COVID and Long COVID is that it affects the nervous system and other organs and is not likely to be observed with initial symptoms.”
- A small study in The Journal of Urology found that SARS-C0V-2 can persist in the semen of people who have had COVID-19 for at least six months and that the discovery may help us better study Long COVID. “The male genital tract may be a reservoir for the virus,” the authors wrote. A separate study in Scientific Reports with over 900 participants found COVID-19 “was associated with poor sperm quality,” as measured through lower sperm counts, reduced mobility, and DNA damage. Both studies stated the need for more research into SARS-CoV-2’s impact on reproductive outcomes.
- Finally, researchers at Johns Hopkins are enrolling two male participants with Long COVID under the age of 40 to take part in an MRI study to better understand the disease’s impact on the brain. The study requires two visits in Baltimore, Maryland at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Participants who complete the study will receive $150 and a free copy of their MRI results. Contact: C.L. Marvel, cmarvel1@jhmi.edu.
*Editor’s note: The Polybio Research Foundation, like The Sick Times, has received support from the Balvi and Kanro funds. Our newsroom operates independently of financial supporters.
