Researchers are still searching for answers about why some people recover from COVID-19 while others struggle with long-term symptoms. A study by Dr. Marc Sala at Northwestern Medicine has shed new light on the condition, which affects nearly 1 in 5 Americans who had COVID-19.
The CDC reports that adults aged 50 to 59 are three times more likely to experience long COVID than those over 80 years old. However, researchers have discovered a common link among those affected: lung inflammation and scarring.
Using advanced gene expression technology and CT scans, Dr. Sala found that harmful immune cells continued to infiltrate the lungs, causing ongoing inflammation. This process persists even after three months, six months, or up to a year.
The study’s findings offer hope for new treatments of long COVID. Dr. Sala aims to develop a way to stop the influx of these inflammatory cells and help patients with other lung problems.
Source: https://www.yourerie.com/news/local-news/health-report-getting-to-the-root-of-the-long-covid-problem