Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Mar 24, 2026 1 hour, 35 minutes ago
Medical News: Nearly three years after the global COVID-19 emergency officially subsided, scientists are uncovering alarming new insights into the long-term effects of the virus. What was once considered a respiratory illness is now increasingly recognized as a condition that can profoundly affect the brain and mental health, leaving millions struggling to regain their normal lives.
Long COVID is driving a global surge in brain and mental health complications, affecting millions and straining economies
A Global Condition Affecting Millions
Current estimates suggest that between 80 million and 400 million people worldwide may be living with long COVID. This condition, also called post-COVID-19 syndrome, typically develops within three months of infection and can persist for extended periods. Patients report a wide range of symptoms—over 200 identified so far—including fatigue, breathlessness, and a growing list of neurological and psychological issues.
Common mental and cognitive symptoms include memory problems, difficulty concentrating, anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, dizziness, and persistent headaches. These symptoms often interfere with daily routines, making it difficult for individuals to work, study, or maintain social relationships.
The findings come from a major international review conducted by a panel of 14 experts. Among them is Professor Clarissa Yasuda from the Faculty of Medical Sciences at the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Brazil. She is also a researcher at the Brazilian Institute of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology (BRAINN), a Research, Innovation, and Dissemination Center supported by the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP).
Complex Biological Mechanisms at Work
Scientists now believe that long COVID is driven by several overlapping biological processes. One key factor is viral persistence, where remnants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus remain in the body and continue to trigger immune responses long after the initial infection.
Another major contributor is the reactivation of dormant viruses, particularly those from the herpesvirus family, which can resurface when the immune system is weakened. Chronic inflammation and immune system dysregulation further complicate the condition, while imbalances in gut bacteria—known as microbiota dysbiosis—may also play a role.
Additionally, abnormalities in blood clotting and damage to the lining of blood vessels have been observed. In the brain, these disruptions can lead to structural changes and altered communication between different regions. This
Medical News report highlights that such neurological disturbances are closely linked to symptoms like brain fog, emotional instability, and cognitive decline.
Diagnosis Still Relies on Clinical Evaluation
One of the biggest challenges facing healthcare providers is the lack of a definitive diagnostic test for long COVID. Currently, diagnosis depends on a patient’s history
of COVID-19 infection combined with symptoms that persist or recur for at least three months.
Doctors must also rule out other possible conditions, often requiring blood tests, imaging scans, and heart evaluations such as electrocardiograms and echocardiograms. The absence of clear biomarkers not only complicates diagnosis but can also delay appropriate care.
Economic And Social Consequences
The impact of long COVID extends far beyond individual health. Many patients find it difficult to return to work or maintain previous levels of productivity. In Brazil alone, researchers estimate that over 803 million work hours were lost in 2024 due to long COVID. This is equivalent to approximately 400,000 full-time workers being absent for an entire year, with economic losses exceeding 11 billion US dollars.
Globally, the condition may cost around 1 trillion US dollars annually—about 1 percent of the world’s total economic output. These figures highlight the growing burden of long COVID on both national economies and global productivity.
Personal Experience Reflects Broader Reality
Professor Yasuda’s own experience with long COVID illustrates the condition’s unpredictable nature. After contracting COVID-19 in 2020 with only mild initial symptoms, she later developed cognitive difficulties that interfered with her academic work.
Through disciplined recovery strategies, she gradually improved, but her experience underscores how even mild infections can lead to significant long-term effects.
Stigma And Barriers to Care
Many individuals with long COVID face skepticism and stigma, which can hinder access to medical care and social support. Some patients report being dismissed or blamed for their symptoms, adding emotional distress to an already challenging condition.
Children and adolescents are also affected, with potential disruptions to education and social development. Experts emphasize the importance of multidisciplinary care involving doctors, psychologists, and rehabilitation specialists to address the wide range of symptoms.
Prevention Remains the Best Strategy
At present, there is no specific treatment for long COVID. Researchers stress that the most effective way to avoid the condition is to prevent infection and reinfection through vaccination and public health measures.
Ongoing studies aim to better understand the disease, develop diagnostic tools, and identify effective treatments. Long-term research, including brain-focused studies conducted by Yasuda’s team at BRAINN, is expected to provide critical insights into how the condition evolves over time.
Conclusion
Long COVID has emerged as a serious and complex condition that affects both physical and mental health. Its wide range of symptoms and unclear biological mechanisms make it difficult to diagnose and treat, while its impact on daily life and the global economy continues to grow. As research advances, greater awareness and coordinated healthcare efforts will be essential to support those affected and to prepare for future public health challenges of a similar scale.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed journal: Nature Reviews Disease Primers.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41572-025-00674-7
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Read Also:
https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/long-covid
https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/coronavirus
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