A new AI tool identified long COVID in 22.8% of patients, a much higher rate than previously diagnosed. By analyzing extensive health records from nearly 300,000 patients, the algorithm identifies long COVID by distinguishing symptoms linked specifically to SARS-CoV-2 infection rather than pre-existing conditions. This AI approach, known as "precision phenotyping," helps clinicians differentiate long COVID symptoms from other health issues and may improve diagnostic accuracy by about 3%.

A study found people with long COVID symptoms were twice as likely to have lingering SARS-CoV-2 proteins in their blood, suggesting a persistent viral reservoir may drive some ongoing symptoms. Researchers analyzed blood from 706 individuals and found that 43% of those with multisystem long COVID symptoms had viral proteins present months post-infection, compared to 21% of those without symptoms. This discovery hints at potential benefits from antiviral treatments for those with persistent symptoms. However, the study also reveals that not all long COVID cases show persistent viral proteins, indicating other causes may contribute to this complex condition.

New research shows that severe Covid-19 infection can cause inflammation in the brainstem, potentially leading to prolonged symptoms like fatigue, breathlessness, and anxiety. Using ultra-high-resolution 7-Tesla MRI scanners, scientists observed specific brainstem areas associated with these symptoms, highlighting how immune response post-infection might affect brain health.

Healthy adults who contracted COVID-19 had subtle but measurable declines in memory and cognitive performance lasting up to a year. These differences were found through sensitive testing under controlled conditions, though all scores remained within normal ranges, and none of the participants reported lasting cognitive symptoms.