Why Women Face Worse Long COVID - Neuroscience News

A study published in Cell Reports Medicine indicates that women with long COVID exhibit distinct biological markers that may explain their increased likelihood of experiencing severe symptoms. The research found that women's bodies showed signs of gut inflammation, anemia, and hormone disruptions, particularly reduced testosterone levels, which were linked to ongoing inflammation and symptoms like fatigue and brain fog. An analysis involved 78 long COVID patients and a control group, revealing gender-specific immune profiles and blood biomarkers. Elevated inflammatory markers and impaired red blood cell production were significant findings, suggesting that women may be more susceptible to prolonged symptoms due to these biological disruptions. The study's lead researcher, Shokrollah Elahi, emphasized the importance of developing individualized treatment approaches that could include therapies targeting inflammation and hormone imbalances to better manage long COVID symptoms, especially for the 3.5 million Canadians affected.