Nick Mack

News Release 25-Feb-2026 Tulane study reveals key differences in long-term brain effects of COVID-19 and flu Disruption of serotonin and dopamine signaling pathways could explain why some feel 'brain fog' after being infected by COVID-19 Peer-Reviewed Publication Tulane University FacebookXLinkedInWeChatBlueskyMessageWhatsAppEmail Even a mild case of COVID-19 or the flu can impact the body long after the fever and cough fade, according to new Tulane University research that may help explain why some people struggle to feel fully recovered weeks or months later. Tulane researchers found that while both viruses can leave lasting lung damage, only SARS-CoV-2 infection caused persistent brain inflammation and small blood vessel injury, even after the virus was no longer detectable. The findings, published in Frontiers in Immunology, help explain why long COVID often includes neurological symptoms such as brain fog, fatigue and mood changes, while influenza is more commonly associated with respiratory complications.

News Release 25-Feb-2026

"Tulane study reveals key differences in long-term brain effects of COVID-19 and flu: Disruption of serotonin & dopamine signaling pathways could explain why some feel 'brain fog' after being infected by COVID-19"

www.eurekalert.org/news-release...

#LongCovid #NeuroPASC

Alt text: Screenshot of a CIDRAP news brief titled “Long-COVID symptoms persist for years in nonhospitalized adults, study reveals.” By Laine Bergeson, posted “16 minutes ago.” Includes a photo of a woman pressing her temples, looking distressed/fatigued.

Long-COVID symptoms persist for years in nonhospitalized adults, study reveals

Study of 130 non-hospitalised Long COVID adults in Sweden found that at 2.5 years ~50% had severe dyspnea and depression, and 42% had impaired lower-body strength on testing at clinic.

www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/lon...

Study: COVID-19 raises risk of 'vascular aging' with stiffer arteries When people think about COVID-19, they may think about how it affects their respiratory system. A new study shows how it can affect "vascular aging."

"Study shows COVID-19 raises risk of 'vascular aging' with stiffer arteries."

COVID-19 doesn’t only affect the lungs. New research shows people who’ve had COVID-19 have stiffer arteries than those never infected, highlighting ongoing cardiovascular risks after infection.

Vaccination didn't eliminate the increased danger posed by a 2nd infection compared to a 1st infection.

The pattern was the same: Reinfection resulted in a higher risk of PASC for all children and adolescents

Zero mitigation in schools
#CleanAir4Kids

www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...

Vaccination didn't eliminate the increased danger posed by a 2nd infection compared to a 1st infection.

The pattern was the same: Reinfection resulted in a higher risk of PASC for all children and adolescents

Zero mitigation in schools
#CleanAir4Kids

www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...

Vaccination didn't eliminate the increased danger posed by a 2nd infection compared to a 1st infection.

The pattern was the same: Reinfection resulted in a higher risk of PASC for all children and adolescents

Zero mitigation in schools
#CleanAir4Kids

www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...

Now address reinfections

jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...

Vaccination didn't eliminate the increased danger posed by a 2nd infection compared to a 1st infection.

The pattern was the same: Reinfection resulted in a higher risk of PASC for all children and adolescents

Zero mitigation in schools
#CleanAir4Kids

www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...

Vaccination didn't eliminate the increased danger posed by a 2nd infection compared to a 1st infection.

The pattern was the same: Reinfection resulted in a higher risk of PASC for all children and adolescents

Zero mitigation in schools
#CleanAir4Kids

www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...

Vaccination didn't eliminate the increased danger posed by a 2nd infection compared to a 1st infection.

The pattern was the same: Reinfection resulted in a higher risk of PASC for all children and adolescents

Zero mitigation in schools
FREEDUMB

www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...

Vaccination didn't eliminate the increased danger posed by a 2nd infection compared to a 1st infection.

The pattern was the same: Reinfection resulted in a higher risk of PASC for all children and adolescents

Zero mitigation in schools
#CleanAir4Kids

www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...

Vaccination didn't eliminate the increased danger posed by a 2nd infection compared to a 1st infection.

The pattern was the same: Reinfection resulted in a higher risk of PASC for all children and adolescents

Zero mitigation in schools
#CleanAir4Kids

www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...

Vaccination didn't eliminate the increased danger posed by a 2nd infection compared to a 1st infection.

The pattern was the same: Reinfection resulted in a higher risk of PASC for all children and adolescents

Zero mitigation in schools
#CleanAir4Kids

www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...

Vaccination didn't eliminate the increased danger posed by a 2nd infection compared to a 1st infection.

The pattern was the same: Reinfection resulted in a higher risk of PASC for all children and adolescents

Zero mitigation in schools
#CleanAir4Kids

www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...

In a retrospective cohort study of 18,124 newborns at Mass General Brigham, babies whose mothers had COVID infection during pregnancy faced a 29% higher odds of a neurodevelopmental diagnosis such as speech delays, motor disorders, and autism by age 3.

journals.lww.com/greenjournal...

New study in The Lancet Infectious Disease analyzing 460,000 patients across 40 US hospitals found that children’s risk of developing LongCOVID more than doubled upon reinfection, with no significant variation by vaccination status.

www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...

Protect workers
#CleanAir

www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...

New study in The Lancet Infectious Disease analyzing 460,000 patients across 40 US hospitals found that children’s risk of developing LongCOVID more than doubled upon reinfection, with no significant variation by vaccination status.

www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...

New study in The Lancet Infectious Disease analyzing 460,000 patients across 40 US hospitals found that children’s risk of developing LongCOVID more than doubled upon reinfection, with no significant variation by vaccination status.

www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...

New study in The Lancet Infectious Disease analyzing 460,000 patients across 40 US hospitals found that children’s risk of developing LongCOVID more than doubled upon reinfection, with no significant variation by vaccination status.

www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...

Long COVID is here to stay—even in children Post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC, also known as long COVID) are complex, multisystem, long-lasting complications of SARS-CoV-2 infection that profoundly impact the daily life of those...

USA researchers studied 465,717 children and found reinfection doubled the risk of long COVID.

At least 6 million US children may be affected, more than asthma, with symptoms lasting years and no treatment yet.

www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...

New study in The Lancet Infectious Disease analyzing 460,000 patients across 40 US hospitals found that children’s risk of developing LongCOVID more than doubled upon reinfection, with no significant variation by vaccination status.

www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...

Tess Finch-Lees: Forever-Covid hurts young people’s health – and their futures Two years ago, I reported on a study finding that the corona­virus contributed to the 2022 surge of paediatric RSV cases “through the large build-up of Covid-19-infected children and the potential lon...

m.independent.ie/opinion/comm...