ABC News A new study suggests this may lead to symptoms seen in long COVID patients.
Decreased levels of serotonin in the body may be a contributing factor in the development and persistence of so-called ‘long COVID’ symptoms, according to a new study.
Researchers suggest that, even after acute COVID symptoms subside, traces of the virus remain in the gastrointestinal tract, which is where the majority of circulating serotonin is produced, and where the virus reduces levels of the essential chemical. The low levels of serotonin might in turn lead to some of the more commonly reported long COVID symptoms, such as cognitive difficulties and memory problems, according to the study.
For the study, published Monday in the journal Cell, researchers at Penn Medicine conducted an analysis using questionnaire surveys and medical chart reviews of 1,540 patients hospitalized with long COVID.
Patients reported symptoms including fatigue, cognitive difficulties, headaches, anxiety, loss of endurance, problems with sleep, and memory loss – all typically associated with long COVID diagnosis.