A new study led by researchers at Yale examined people with long COVID and other comparison groups. The team found that some patients had autoantibodies — antibodies that attack the body’s own tissues — which reacted with brain and nerve tissue.
Researchers purified antibodies from blood and exposed them to human and mouse tissues. They also screened samples against more than 21,000 human proteins and found many targets linked to neurons, inflammation and hormone signals. When antibodies from patients were given to healthy mice, the mice developed more pain sensitivity, fatigue and balance problems, and showed damage to small nerve fibers.
Difficult words
- autoantibody — immune protein that attacks the body's own tissuesautoantibodies
- antibody — protein made by the immune system to fight germsantibodies
- tissue — part of the body made of similar cellstissues
- neuron — a cell that sends signals in the brainneurons
- inflammation — body reaction that causes redness and swelling
- fatigue — a feeling of strong tiredness and low energy
- sensitivity — how easily a person feels pain or changes
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Which symptom from the study (pain sensitivity, fatigue, balance problems) seems most difficult to live with? Why?
- How could damage to small nerve fibers change a person's daily life?
- Have you or someone you know felt long-lasting fatigue after an illness? How did it affect daily activities?
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