COVID-19's hidden toll on the brain: new study probes lasting nerve symptoms

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

* INCLUSION CRITERIA: In order to be eligible to participate in the PASC cohort, an individual must meet all of the following criteria: 1. Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and availability for the duration of the study 2. Male or female, aged at least 18 years at the time of enrollment 3. Enrolled in the screening phase of Protocol 000089 Post-Coronavirus Disease 19 Convalescence at the National Institutes of Health 4. Positive COVID-19 test result (per the methodology used for inclusion in Protocol 000089) at least six weeks prior to enrollment and exhibiting persistent neurologic symptoms evidenced by a positive response to at least one of the following: 1. Do you have ongoing issues with being lightheaded or dizzy and if so, are these issues made worse when you sit or stand up quickly? 2. Do you have ongoing issues with gait instability, problems with vision, speech, swallowing? 3. Do you have ongoing issues with sensation or strength in your face/arms/legs? 5. Ability of subject to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document. In order to be eligible to participate in the Fully Recovered cohort, an individual must meet all of the following criteria: 1. Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and availability for the duration of the study 2. Male or female, aged at least 18 years at the time of enrollment 3. Enrolled in the screening phase of Protocol 000089 Post-Coronavirus Disease 19 Convalescence at the National Institutes of Health 4. Positive COVID-19 test result (per the methodology used for inclusion in Protocol 000089) in at least six weeks prior to enrollment. 5. A self-reported illness narrative of recovery to prior health after a SARS/CoV2 infection, without residual fatigue, brain fog, orthostatic intolerance, or exercise intolerance. 6. Ability of subject to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document. EXCLUSION CRITERIA: An individual who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this study: 1. Presence of a contraindication to research MRI with gadolinium, including contraindicated metal in the body, prior allergic reaction to gadolinium, eGFR \<45 mmol/L, pregnancy or lactation, or claustrophobia that is unable to be adequately treated with a low oral dose of a benzodiazepine. 2. Contraindication to a research lumbar puncture, including use of anticoagulant medication, platelets \< 50,000/microL, PT or PTT \>1.5 x ULN for the NIH Clinical Center, or otherwise inability to complete the procedure. 3. Contraindication to autonomic testing, including refractory ventricular arrhythmias or symptomatic coronary artery disease. 4. A condition prior to the diagnosis of COVID-19 infection that would significantly confound interpretation of the research tests (e.g., prior diagnosis of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome), as determined by the study investigators. 5. Fever or respiratory symptoms in the last seven days.