Ask Patricia Anderson about her well-being, and you’ll get a more nuanced response. “Today, I’m working and I’m fine,” she shared recently. However, she revealed that she spent Saturday and Sunday bedridden due to the ongoing effects of long Covid. Before contracting Covid-19 in March 2020, Ms. Anderson led an active lifestyle, practicing martial arts and relying on walking and public transportation instead of owning a car. She even tracked her steps and once reached an impressive 11,409 steps in a single day.
However, the virus drastically impacted her health. She experienced extreme chills, difficulty breathing, a nervous system disorder, and such cognitive decline that she couldn’t read a book for months. “I was very sick for a long time, and I never really got better,” she shared. Some days, she could only manage a step count in the three digits due to fatigue. Although she made progress through rehabilitation, she still experienced setbacks.
Long Covid affects individuals who have been infected in various ways, and older patients are often particularly impacted. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that around 11 percent of American adults have developed long Covid, down from nearly 19 percent in the previous year. This decline suggests that some individuals are recovering from the syndrome over time.
While adults over the age of 60 have lower rates of long Covid overall compared to those aged 30 to 59, there may be several factors contributing to this. Older Americans may have higher rates of vaccination and booster shots, as well as engaging in more protective behavior such as wearing masks and avoiding crowded places. Additionally, there may be unknown biological factors at play, according to Akiko Iwasaki, an immunologist and researcher at Yale School of Medicine.
At the age of 66, Ms. Anderson has finally regained most of her cognitive and some physical functions. She can now manage 3,000 to 4,000 steps per day. However, she remains cautious, wearing an N95 mask when outside and using a sitting cane to rest during shopping trips if needed. She also worries about her future as her employer may require more on-site work in the library. Retirement isn’t a feasible option for her, making the situation quite concerning.
The CDC defines long Covid as symptoms persisting for a month or more after infection, while the World Health Organization characterizes it as the continuation or development of new symptoms three months after the initial infection, lasting at least two months with no other explanation. The vast array of long Covid symptoms includes breathing difficulties, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, kidney issues, gastrointestinal disorders, cognitive decline, fatigue, muscle pain and weakness, and mental health problems.
Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly, a clinical epidemiologist at Washington University School of Medicine, states that long Covid affects almost every organ system in the body and can impact individuals of all ages. It can follow severe or mild Covid infections and occur after any of the infection bouts. While older individuals are not more prone to long Covid overall, Dr. Al-Aly’s research indicates that they are at higher risk for specific clusters of symptoms, including metabolic disorders, cardiovascular problems, gastrointestinal issues, and neurological symptoms like strokes and cognitive decline.
Jane Wolgemuth, a 69-year-old retiree from Monument, Colo., experienced cognitive problems after contracting Covid in June 2022. Despite undergoing normal test results, she was diagnosed with long Covid. She has been trying various treatments, such as supplements, light therapy, and extending her daily walking distance to four miles. While she feels more like herself now, she recognizes the destructive impact of Covid.
Seniors may mistake long Covid symptoms for age-related conditions, leading to delayed treatment. Dr. Monica Verduzco-Gutierrez, Chair of Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, mentions that patients may attribute their symptoms to aging or other factors. Long Covid can also worsen existing health issues in older individuals, such as cognitive decline and heart conditions, which affect mobility and increase the risk of falls.
Preventing Covid infection is the best way to avoid long Covid. Dr. Al-Aly advises proactive measures, such as wearing masks in close quarters and dining outdoors at restaurants as infections increase. He emphasizes the importance of vaccination and boosters, which reduce the risk of long Covid by 15 percent to 50 percent, as studies have shown. He also recommends seeking medical attention and testing if infected to determine eligibility for antiviral treatments like Paxlovid, which can reduce the risk of long Covid by approximately 20 percent and 34 percent for individuals in their 60s and over 70, respectively.
Longitudinal studies are still needed to determine if older individuals recover more slowly from long Covid. While patients like Ms. Anderson and Ms. Wolgemuth have tried various treatments and therapies, there is currently no medicine proven to reverse the effects of long Covid. Rehabilitation approaches have shown some positive outcomes, but there is a lack of programs and clinics experienced in treating long Covid. Additionally, some doctors dismiss long Covid symptoms, leaving patients to find their own solutions.
In response, long Covid patients have become advocates for research and treatment, similar to AIDS activists in the 1980s. The Biden administration has recently established a federal office dedicated to long Covid research, and more clinical trials are underway. Until more concrete solutions are available, patients rely on support groups like Long Covid Support and the Covid-19 Longhauler Advocacy Project while participating in patient-led research initiatives.
Sheila McGrath, a 71-year-old resident of Herndon, Va., experienced a second bout of Covid in 2020 and continues to suffer from long Covid. Alongside Ms. Anderson, she co-hosts online chats for Long Covid Support and witnesses the frustration and emotional distress experienced by fellow patients. These individuals long for validation, proper medical attention, and effective treatments. Working together, they advocate for research and support one another through the challenges of long Covid.