The Hidden Cause of Long COVID Fatigue and Brain Fog: Microclots and Neutrophil Traps (2025)
The COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly changed the course of countless lives. And for many of those who have contracted the disease, the effects can still be felt even if they've "officially" recovered. (1) Commonly known as long COVID, this side effect of the SARS-CoV-2 infection affects millions worldwide, and many struggle with symptoms for more than a year (2). For a few years, researchers have been hitting dead ends as to what causes these long-term issues. Now, a new study has uncovered strong evidence that can answer their longstanding theories — microclots (3). New Research Deepens Understanding of Long COVID In a study published in the Journal of Medical Virology, researchers set out to learn what makes long COVID so persistent. Trying a new angle, they focused on the blood itself, and found that those with long COVID carry abnormal microscopic structures. Specifically, fibrin microclots fused with immune cell debris. 4 To perform the analysis, the team used advan...