Scientists have discovered that people in Nigeria are facing neurological effects of long COVID, a condition known as neuro-long COVID. Symptoms include brain fog, mild cognitive difficulties, fatigue, trouble sleeping, headaches, sensations like pins and needles, and muscle discomfort.
Researchers have found for the first time that individuals in Nigeria are experiencing neurological effects associated with long COVID, commonly referred to as neuro-long COVID. These symptoms encompass brain fog, mild cognitive impairment, fatigue, sleep disorders, headaches, feelings of pins and needles, and muscle pain.
This research involved a partnership between scientists from Northwestern Medicine and a group from the University of Lagos and Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) in Nigeria. Among 2,319 participants, 106 (4.6%) showed long COVID symptoms related to their neurological health, with some still reporting issues nearly two years after their initial COVID-19 infection. The study also revealed that individuals who were hospitalized for COVID-19 pneumonia experienced long COVID symptoms more frequently compared to those who had mild cases and did not require hospitalization (11.5% vs 3.9%, respectively).
The results were published on October 24, in the Journal of NeuroVirology.
This highlights a significant need for better detection, diagnosis, and management of neuro-long COVID in Nigeria.
“This data provides hope for potential interventions to ease patient suffering,” noted Dr. Igor Koralnik, head of neuro-infectious disease and global neurology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. “Our work shows that even in settings with limited resources where there are numerous other challenges, it is possible to conduct these studies and identify and diagnose affected individuals.”
Key contributors from the Nigerian team include neurologist Dr. Njideka U. Okubadejo and infectious disease specialist Dr. Iorhen E. Akase, both associated with the University of Lagos and LUTH.
Dr. Koralnik and his team established the Northwestern Medicine Neuro-COVID-19 Clinic in May 2020, where they began assessing many patients with post-COVID neurological issues. Conversely, in Nigeria, awareness regarding long COVID and available symptomatic treatments is limited, and there was a lack of dedicated post-COVID care centers even during the peak of the pandemic.
“This underscores the importance of conducting research to highlight the necessity for diagnosis and treatment options for these patients and to advocate for specialized outpatient clinics,” Koralnik remarked. “Without awareness of a condition, effective treatment cannot occur.”
Overview of Neurological Symptoms
The main neurological symptoms reported by study participants at various stages included:
- Brain fog/difficulty with memory (59.4%)
- Fatigue (55.7%)
- Sleep issues (32%)
- Headaches (31%)
- Paresthesia, or the feeling of numbness and tingling (11.3%)
- Muscle pain (myalgia) (9.4%).
A total of 66 participants with neuro-long COVID underwent in-person neurological evaluations and cognitive assessments. Among these, 16.9% completed the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, a standard tool for identifying cognitive impairment, and their results indicated mild cognitive impairment.
Future Directions
In upcoming research, scientists intend to address brain fog and cognitive dysfunction in neuro-long COVID patients in Nigeria using treatment methods currently applied in Chicago, as stated by Koralnik.
Despite vaccinations and booster shots, COVID-19 continues to be a reality, with ongoing studies by the National Center for Health Statistics showing that around 14 million adults in the U.S. are currently experiencing long COVID. This condition primarily affects adults in their prime, significantly impacting their quality of life and work capabilities, which poses serious public health and socio-economic challenges.
Millenia Jimenez, a member of the Koralnik laboratory at Northwestern, contributed as a co-author to this study.
