Younger patients are more likely to suffer from neurological manifestations of long-term COVID

Younger and middle-aged patients appear to be disproportionately affected by neurological manifestations of post-acute sequelae of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection (Neuro-PASC), a study shows published online November 22 in the Annals of Neurology.

Natasha A. Choudhury, MD, of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, and colleagues conducted a cross-sectional study of the first consecutive 200 Neuro-PASC patients post-hospitalized and 1,100 non-hospitalized Neuro-PASC (NNP) patients assessed in a Neuro-PASC unit. COVID-19 clinic between May 2020 and March 2023. Patients were divided into age groups: younger, middle-aged, and older (18 to 44, 45 to 64, and 65-plus years, respectively).

The researchers found that significant age-related differences in the frequency of comorbidities and abnormal neurological findings demonstrated a higher prevalence in older patients. Conversely, significant age-related differences in Neuro-PASC symptoms were seen 10 months after COVID-19 onset, indicating lower prevalence and symptom burden in older individuals.

In the NNP group, significant age-related differences were observed in the subjective impression of fatigue and sleep disturbance, corresponding to a higher deterioration in quality of life for younger patients. In NNP patients, significant age-related differences were observed in objective executive function and working memory, with the poorest performance observed in younger patients.

“The impact of this condition, which causes disproportionate morbidity and disability in younger adults in their prime, who provide much of the workforce, productivity and innovation in our society, could lead to critical issues such as increasing the burden on the healthcare system , a mental health crisis, cultural decline and economic recession,” the authors write.

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