New findings on Long COVID, explained in plain language. We update this page as major studies are published. • Long COVID may injure dopamine-producing brain cells. Researchers at Canada's Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) found evidence of injury to dopamine-producing neurons in the brain in people with Long COVID — a possible biological explanation for fatigue, brain fog, low motivation, and mood changes. Source: eBioMedicine, July 2026 — https://www.camh.ca • Longer Paxlovid course did not improve Long COVID symptoms in major NIH trial. In the NIH RECOVER-VITAL trial — 959 participants at 69 sites — an extended course of Paxlovid was safe but did not improve Long COVID symptoms compared with placebo. Researchers say further trials of other approaches are needed. Source: The Lancet Infectious Diseases, August 31, 2026 — https://recovercovid.org • Lung and mouth bacteria patterns linked to lasting symptoms. The UK PHOSP-COVID study of 771 people hospitalized with COVID found distinct microbiome patterns in the lungs and mouth that were associated with respiratory symptoms and fatigue a year later — pointing to possible future tests and treatments. Source: European Respiratory Journal, October 2026 — https://erj.ersjournals.com • Long COVID tied to a 14% higher risk of high blood pressure. A Swedish study of about 1.2 million adults found people with Long COVID had a 14% higher risk of developing hypertension, suggesting blood pressure should be monitored as part of Long COVID follow-up care. Source: Journal of the American Heart Association, October 2026 — https://www.ahajournals.org • More than 1 in 10 healthcare workers report moderate-to-severe lingering symptoms. A 2026 study of healthcare workers found over 10% living with moderate-to-severe symptoms long after infection — a workforce as well as a health issue for hospitals already short-staffed. Source: American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 2026 — https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10970274 • NIH RECOVER: the big U.S. Long COVID research program. All 8 of the NIH RECOVER clinical trials have finished enrolling, and early results have begun to appear in journals including JAMA Neurology. The follow-on RECOVER-TLC program is testing 4 additional treatments. This is the largest coordinated Long COVID treatment research effort in the U.S. Source: NIH RECOVER (recovercovid.org), ongoing — https://recovercovid.org • Latest research, as it happens. New Long COVID studies appear continuously, so this page cannot list every new finding the moment it appears. For the newest studies as they are published, see PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=long+covid&sort=date