In my mind, the spring season will always be associated with COVID-19. In spring 2020, the federal government declared a nationwide emergency, and life drastically changed. Schools and businesses closed,…
Tag: COVID-19
COVID-19 rapid tests still work against new variants – researchers keep ‘testing the tests,’ and they pass
By September 2020, just six months after COVID-19 triggered shutdowns across the U.S., it was clear that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, had mutated from its original form. The…
Mounting research shows that COVID-19 leaves its mark on the brain, including with significant drops in IQ scores
From the very early days of the pandemic, brain fog emerged as a significant health condition that many experience after COVID-19. Brain fog is a colloquial term that describes a…
Early COVID-19 research is riddled with poor methods and low-quality results − a problem for science the pandemic worsened but didn’t create
Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers flooded journals with studies about the then-novel coronavirus. Many publications streamlined the peer-review process for COVID-19 papers while keeping acceptance rates relatively high. The…
For many who are suffering with prolonged grief, the holidays can be a time to reflect and find meaning in loss
The holiday season is meant to be filled with joy, connection and celebration of rituals. Many people, however, are starkly reminded of their grief this time of year and of…
Alzheimer’s Alters COVID-19 Response in Olfactory Cells
Summary: Researchers uncovered how Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) impacts COVID-19 outcomes through changes in the olfactory mucosal cells. Their study focused on individuals with AD who experienced exacerbated COVID-19 symptoms. Using…
People who experienced childhood adversity had poorer COVID-19 outcomes, new study shows
Adults who faced adversity during childhood were significantly more likely to die from or be hospitalized because of COVID-19. That’s the key finding of my team’s recent study, published in…
New Treatment for COVID-Induced Smell Loss
Summary: A new study presents a promising treatment for restoring the sense of smell in long-COVID patients. The study explores the effectiveness of CT-guided stellate ganglion block, a minimally invasive…
COVID-19 vaccine mandates have come and mostly gone in the US – an ethicist explains why their messy rollout matters for trust in public health
Ending pandemics is a social decision, not scientific. Governments and organizations rely on social, cultural and political considerations to decide when to officially declare the end of a pandemic. Ideally,…
Vaccines against COVID-19, the seasonal flu and RSV are our best chance of preventing a winter surge
As cold and flu season ramps up, health care experts are once again on high alert for the possibility of a tripledemic, or a surge brought on by the respiratory…
