Long COVID Neurologic Update (2026)
What We Know Now — and Why It Matters
covidCAREgroup Education Series
At covidCAREgroup, we hear these stories every day.
Our mission is to help patients feel heard, supported, and connected to evidence-informed resources.
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, clinicians, researchers, and patients alike have witnessed a wide range of neurological symptoms associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. While medicine has learned a great deal about acute COVID-19, the long-term effects — commonly known as Long COVID — remain one of the most important and complex public health challenges of our time.
For many people, recovery from infection does not mean a return to baseline health. Individuals frequently report ongoing symptoms such as brain fog, headaches, dizziness, insomnia, mood changes, and shortness of breath.
For some, symptoms improve gradually. For others, they persist for months or years and affect work, relationships, and identity.
A More Clear Definition of Long COVID
In June 2024, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine released a consensus definition designed to improve recognition of Long COVID.
This definition recognizes Long COVID as a multisystem condition, meaning it can affect neurologic, immune, cardiovascular, respiratory, and metabolic systems simultaneously.
Long COVID may include:
• Persistent symptoms after infection
• New conditions triggered by infection
• Worsening of pre-existing illnesses
It may also overlap with conditions such as:
• POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome)
• ME/CFS (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome)
• Mast cell activation syndromes
• Migraine transformation or worsening
Long COVID is not one disease.
It is a complex post-infectious syndrome affecting multiple body systems.
Why Neurological Symptoms Are So Common
Neurological symptoms are among the most frequent and disabling aspects of Long COVID.
Researchers believe several biological mechanisms may contribute, including:
• Persistent immune activation
• Neuroinflammation
• Microvascular injury affecting brain blood flow
• Autonomic nervous system dysfunction
• Mitochondrial and energy metabolism disruption
These interacting systems can affect cognition, mood, sleep, sensory processing, and stamina.
How Common Are Neurological Effects?
Studies consistently show increased neurological risk after COVID infection.
Research suggests:
• 20–35% of individuals report lingering symptoms at 3–6 months
• 10–15% experience significant cognitive or neurological impairment
• Long COVID can occur even after mild infection
Vaccination reduces risk but does not eliminate it.
If your symptoms are persistent, unpredictable, or affecting your ability to function, you are not imagining it and you deserve support.
Post-COVID Headaches and Migraine Changes
Headache is one of the most common neurological symptoms after COVID.
Many patients report:
• Increased migraine frequency
• Longer attack duration
• Reduced response to medications
• Development of new daily headaches
These changes can be frustrating and difficult to manage without specialist input.
Treatment: Why Individualized Care Matters
There is no single cure for Long COVID, but many treatments help improve function and stability.
These may include:
• Cognitive rehabilitation for brain fog
• Vestibular therapy for dizziness
• Behavioral health support for anxiety or trauma
• Sleep stabilization strategies
• Energy pacing to avoid symptom crashes
Because symptoms vary widely, individualized care plans are essential.
Recovery from Long COVID is rarely linear — support and pacing are often more effective than pushing through symptoms.
Support Options Through ProMedView
For individuals needing structured support navigating chronic illness, recovery, or healthcare systems, ProMedView offers:
✔ Coaching & Advocacy for Chronic Illness
ProMedView Coaching and Advocacy - Guidance on navigating care, managing symptoms, and communicating with providers
✔ Long COVID Recovery Coaching
ProMedView Recovery Coaching - Structured support for pacing, recovery planning, and symptom management
These services are designed to help patients regain stability and direction during uncertain recovery.
The Importance of Team-Based Care
Long COVID rarely affects just one system. Many patients benefit from a coordinated approach involving:
• Neurology
• Behavioral health
• Rehabilitation specialists
• Autonomic experts
• Pain or sleep providers
A collaborative approach prevents fragmented care and improves long-term outcomes.
This is a core principle of covidCAREgroup’s advocacy work.
Where the Science Is Headed
Research continues to evolve rapidly. Current studies point toward:
• Immune and vascular drivers of symptoms
• Autonomic dysfunction patterns
• Energy metabolism changes
• Overlap with other post-infectious syndromes
As science progresses, one truth remains consistent:
Listening to patients is essential to advancing care.
Final Thoughts
Long COVID is real, complex, and still being understood. But patients are not alone — and recovery is possible with the right support, pacing, and medical guidance.
The covidCAREgroup exists to help connect people to information, community, and resources that make recovery more manageable.
Things you can do to help yourself
Minimizing physical & psychological stressors is essential in recovery from Long COVID.
Nutrition: Try to eat protein and fresh vitamin rich foods daily and avoid chemicals, preservatives, sugars, fast foods, prepared foods and high histamine foods.
Don’t skip meals. Your body needs protein, vitamin C, and vitamin D to heal from any injury or illness. A low histamine or low carbohydrate (sugar) diet is recommended by doctors treating Long COVID (PASC), and many people report a reduction in symptoms within 1-3 days of the diet change, including decreases in sneezing, itching or hives, irritable bowel syndrome, body pain, along with a reduction in swelling and inflammation.Hydration: A minimum of eight 8 oz glasses of plain water daily is recommended.
Avoid drinks with chemical additives. You can easily make a fresh electrolyte drink yourself by adding a dash of mineral rich Epsom salt and a piece a fruit like a raspberry for flavor instead of spending money on commercial drinks like Gatorade that contain chemicals and sit in plastic bottles for long periods of time. Remember that caffeine and alcohol have dehydrating effects.Sleep hygiene: Getting 7-9 hours of sleep so your body can repair itself. You need at least 4 hours of uninterrupted sleep to get into the restorative phase of sleep.
Avoid stimulating activities after dinner like thrilling movies or books, arguments, negative news or frustrating stimuli.
If you wake up frequently or with a startle, you may be experiencing drops in your oxygen level, which signal your brain to release adrenaline to force you to take a breath. This could be a temporary inflammation issue or more enduring sleep apnea. Ask your doctor for a sleep study to evaluate your need for a CPAP or BiPAP, a machine that pushes air into your lungs when it senses an apneic episode (periods of not breathing).Stress management: Stress effects every component of your life.
The only thing you can control about stress is your reaction to it. Try to avoid or minimize your exposure to stressful situations: Turn off the news, make family visits that end unpleasantly short, wait for the morning to have intense discussions, let go of things that annoy you but don’t really matter in the big scheme of things, avoid intense conversations or entertainment in the evening.
Exercise within tolerance: Pace yourself and do not push your body to extremes in any way.
For some this may mean seated breathing exercises, walking to the mailbox. Rest when your body says to slow down. Gradually build on your activity endurance as your body cues you to progress. This can be hard to gauge, because when you feel good you naturally do more, but if you do too much you may experience symptom flare ups 1-3 days later as the post exertion inflammation builds. Some people describe this as post exertional malaise, others experience severe recovery set backs.
Breathwork: You can literally stop the fight or flight reaction by taking slow deep breaths.
Deep slow breathing shuts down the adrenaline flow, slows your heart rate, lowers your blood pressure and decreases stress related histamine release. When you do this, your blood reroutes back to your brain and nervous system to allow you to think clearly. It also allows your body to use its energy and oxygen to heal your inflamed nerves and organs.
💛 Stay Connected with covidCAREgroup
If you or someone you care for is living with Long COVID, we invite you to connect with our community for education, support, and advocacy.
👉 Follow covidCAREgroup on Facebook for ongoing resources and updates
👉 Explore ProMedView recovery support services
👉 Share this article with others navigating Long COVID
Together, we can continue connecting the dots.
