Long-Haul Neurological & Psychological Impacts of COVID-19

Congressional Neuroscience Caucus Briefing: Long-Haul Neurological & Psychological Impacts of COVID-19

On May 18, 2022, the American Brain Coalition (ABC) and the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ACNP) joined with the American Academy of Neurology (AAN), and the Society for Neuroscience (SfN) to co-host a Congressional Neuroscience Caucus briefing on the Neurological and Psychological Impacts of Long-haul COVID-19. The event was moderated by Dr. Lori McMahon, Chair of SfN’s Government & Public Affairs Committee and Professor at the Medical University of South Carolina. Presenters included  Dr. Igor Koralnik, Chief of Neuro-infectious Disease & Global Neurology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine opened the panel and shared that he and his colleagues created one of the first neuro-COVID-19 clinics in the country at Northwestern, where they investigate, diagnose, and manage the symptoms of COVID-19 “long-haulers.” Dr. Eric Lenze shared his research focus of developing and testing treatments for depression, anxiety, and brain health in older adults. He has successfully tested treatments for the most complex neuropsychiatric illnesses, including treatment-resistant depression. In 2020,  Dr. Lenze’s group was the first to show the efficacy of an acute oral treatment for COVID-19. Patient Advocate Danielle Kirk, a survivor of Severe Traumatic Brain Injury with resulting Bipolar Disorder shared her compelling personal experience of contracting COVID and Long COVID twice within 16 weeks. Read more here.