While past studies have found that women are more frequently affected by long COVID than men, the new study published today in the Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology showed for the first time that women report more neurologic symptoms of long COVID and experience worse impacts on quality of life and cognitive function than men. 

“We were surprised to see such a significant difference between female and male patients,” said Igor Koralnik, MD, chief of neuroinfectious disease and global neurology at Northwestern Medicine. “Both in the frequency of neurologic long COVID symptoms and in levels of self-reported fatigue, as well as in a cognitive task of attention.”

Study highlights

• The study looked at the first consecutive 2,329 patients who have been seen at the Northwestern Medicine Neuro COVID-19 Clinic.
• Approximately 2/3 of patients were women.
• Women more frequently reported neurologic symptoms such as brain fog, dizziness, headache, numbness and tingling and pain.
• No neurologic symptoms were more common in men.
• Women also reported more non-neurologic symptoms, such as fatigue, shortness of breath, chest pain, dysautonomia and gastrointestinal issues.
• Women also reported worse alteration of their quality of life caused by fatigue than men on standardized questionnaires.
• Women scored lower than men in a task of attention on objective cognitive tests.

“We think that the reason women are more frequently and severely affected by long COVID than men is because long COVID is an autoimmune disease, and women are more prone to autoimmune diseases than men, including multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis,” Dr. Koralnik said. “We and others have found evidence of immune dysregulation and autoimmunity in patients with long COVID. We next want to understand the underlying causes for the neurologic symptoms of long COVID and identify and validate biological markers that show how active the disease is. We hope our study will alert providers about the importance of timely diagnosis and targeted interventions in female patients, who are often negatively affected by gender bias in medicine.

“A Household Pulse Survey conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics estimated that nearly 18 percent of U.S. adults had experienced long COVID and that five percent were experiencing it as of September 2024. It is safe to estimate that long COVID still affects millions of adults in the United States currently,” said Dr. Koralnik. 

To date, the Neuro COVID-19 Clinic has treated more than 3,300 patients with long COVID from 44 states. While severe cases of COVID-19 requiring hospitalization have become rare, Dr. Koralnik says COVID-19 continues to occur and the risk of developing long COVID increases with repeat occurrences of COVID-19.

Northwestern Memorial Hospital is ranked No. 6 in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery by U.S. News & World Report, 2025-2026. For more information, visit nm.org and to schedule an appointment with the Neuro COVID-19 Clinic, call 312.695.7950.

CHICAGO – July 8, 2025 - New research from Northwestern Medicine finds that a usually harmless virus might be an environmental trigger or contributor to Parkinson’s disease, which affects more than one million people in the United States. While some cases are linked to genetics, most Parkinson’s cases are not, and the cause is unknown. The new findings were published on July 8 in the latest issue of JCI Insight.

“We wanted to investigate potential environmental factors – such as viruses – that might contribute to Parkinson’s disease,” said Igor Koralnik, MD, chief of neuroinfectious diseases and global neurology at Northwestern Medicine. “Using a tool called ‘ViroFind’, we analyzed post-mortem brain samples from individuals with Parkinson’s and from those who died of other causes. We searched for all known human-infecting viruses to identify any differences between the two groups.”

Northwestern Medicine researchers detected the Human Pegivirus (HPgV) in the brains of individuals with Parkinson’s disease, but not in those without it. While HPgV belongs to the same family as hepatitis C and is a blood-borne virus, it is not known to cause any disease.

“HPgV is a common, symptomless infection previously not known to frequently infect the brain,” Dr. Koralnik said. “We were surprised to find it in the brains of Parkinson’s patients at such high frequency and not in the controls. Even more unexpected was how the immune system responded differently, depending on a person’s genetics. This suggests it could be an environmental factor that interacts with the body in ways we didn’t realize before. For a virus that was thought to be harmless, these findings suggest it may have important effects, in the context of Parkinson’s disease. It may influence how Parkinson’s develops, especially in people with certain genetic backgrounds.”

Dr. Koralnik and his team including post-doctoral fellow Barbara Hanson, PhD, studied post-mortem brains from 10 people with Parkinson’s and 14 without. They found HPgV in the post-mortem brains of five out of 10 people with Parkinson’s and none of the 14 control brains. It was also present in the spinal fluid of Parkinson’s patients, but not in the control group. Individuals with HPgV in their brains exhibited more advanced or distinct neuropathological changes, including increased tau pathology and altered levels of certain brain proteins.

For the blood analysis, researchers used samples from over 1,000 participants in the Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative, which was launched by The Michael J. Fox Foundation and scientists to create a robust biosample library to help speed scientific breakthroughs and new treatments.

“With the blood samples, we observed similar immune-related changes, mirroring those found in the brain,” Dr. Koralnik said. “People who had the virus showed different signals from the immune system than those who didn’t, and this pattern was the same, no matter the genetics. But as we followed each person over time, we saw a more complicated picture.”

The study found that in patients with a certain Parkinson’s-related gene mutation – LRRK2 – the signals from the immune system were different in response to the virus compared to Parkinson’s patients without the mutation.

“We plan to look more closely at how genes like LRRK2 affect the body’s response to other viral infections to figure out if this is a special effect of HPgV or a broader response to viruses,” added Dr. Koralnik.

Going forward, the research team plans to study more people to find out how common the HPgV virus is in Parkinson’s patients and whether it plays a role in the disease.

“One big question we still need to answer is how often the virus gets into the brains of people with or without Parkinson’s,” said Dr. Koralnik. “We also aim to understand how viruses and genes interact; insights that could reveal how Parkinson’s begins and could help guide future therapies.”

According to the Parkinson’s Foundation, over one million people in the United States are living with Parkinson’s disease and 90,000 new cases are diagnosed every year. The number of people living with Parkinson’s disease is expected to rise to 1.2 million by 2030.

For more information on Parkinson’s disease, visit nm.org.

CHICAGO – Jan. 7, 2025 – COVID-19 vaccinations have protected people from severe complications, hospitalizations and death, but their impact on long COVID has been unknown.

According to new research published in Brain Communications, Northwestern Medicine researchers found that vaccination prior to COVID-19 infection did not significantly affect neurological symptoms in long COVID patients, both in patients who had a severe infection that required hospitalization and those with a mild infection who did not require hospitalization. Common neurological symptoms of long COVID include brain fog, numbness and tingling, headache, dizziness, problems with smell and taste and intense fatigue.

“Since COVID-19 vaccines reduce the severity of the infections, we hypothesized that vaccines may also affect the neurological manifestations of subsequent long COVID,” said Igor Koralnik, MD, chief of neuroinfectious diseases and global neurology at Northwestern Medicine, who oversees the Neuro COVID-19 Clinic and is the co-director of the Northwestern Medicine Comprehensive COVID-19 Center. “We aimed to identify what effects – if any – vaccination prior to infection has on neurological symptoms of long COVID, as well as the quality of life and cognitive function of our patients. These findings are sobering since it shows that vaccination prior to infection does not reduce the neurological manifestations of long COVID.”

STUDY HIGHLIGHTS

·       The study included the first 1,300 patients at the Northwestern Medicine Neuro COVID-19 Clinic with neurologic long COVID symptoms between May 2020 and March 2023.

·       Among those patients, 200 had been previously hospitalized for severe COVID-19, while the rest had mild initial COVID symptoms and never required hospitalization.

·       The study is a first-of-its-kind at Northwestern Medicine looking at whether vaccination prior to infection affects neurological symptoms of long COVID.

·       The study used quantitative metrics to assess quality of life and found patients had impaired quality of life in cognitive, fatigue, sleep, anxiety and depression with no differences between the breakthrough infection and pre-vaccination groups.

·       The study assessed cognitive function and found that patients performed worse on a range of cognitive tests compared to the general population with no difference between the patients who had a breakthrough infection after vaccination and those who were infected before being vaccinated.

“Long COVID is a debilitating condition that can affect multiple organ systems and can have considerable impact on an individual’s daily function and quality of life,” Dr. Koralnik said. “Because vaccination prior to infection does not decrease the neurological manifestations of long COVID, it is critical to keep our communities safe from both acute COVID-19 infection and potential long-term neurological manifestations.”

To date, the Neuro COVID-19 Clinic has treated more than 2,800 long-haulers from 44 states. For more information, visit nm.org and to schedule an appointment, please call 312.695.7950.

To read the full study, click here.

CHICAGO – Nov. 22, 2024 – Since older adults have been more severely affected by acute COVID-19, researchers have hypothesized that older adults may have worse long COVID symptoms as well. But according to new research published in the Annals of Neurology, an official journal of the American Neurological Association, Northwestern Medicine researchers found on an average of 10 months after COVID-19 onset, younger (ages 18-44) and middle-aged (ages 45-64) adults had worse neurologic symptoms of long COVID than adults 65 and older. Symptoms included headache, numbness and tingling, problems with smell and taste, blurred vision, depression, anxiety, insomnia, fatigue and a decrease in cognitive function. These symptoms occurred regardless of if the patient had mild or severe COVID-19 infections.

“While deaths from COVID-19 continue to decrease, people still get repetitive infections with the virus and may develop long COVID along the way,” said Igor Koralnik, MD, chief of neuroinfectious diseases and global neurology at Northwestern Medicine, who oversees the Neuro COVID-19 Clinic and is the co-director of the Northwestern Medicine Comprehensive COVID-19 Center. “Long COVID is causing an alteration in patients’ quality of life. Despite vaccinations and boosters, about 30 percent of COVID patients develop some long COVID symptoms. These findings have an immense public health impact, given that long COVID significantly contributes to the leading global burden of disability and disease caused by the neurological disorders.”

STUDY HIGHLIGHTS

·       The study included the first 1,300 patients at the Northwestern Medicine Neuro COVID-19 Clinic with neurologic long COVID symptoms between May 2020 and March 2023.

·       Among those patients, 200 had been previously hospitalized for severe COVID-19 pneumonia while the rest had mild initial COVID-19 symptoms and never required hospitalization.

·       The study is a first-of-its-kind to look at the neurologic symptoms of long COVID over an adult lifespan.

·       The goal was to determine if the neurologic symptoms of long COVID affect adults differently based on their age group.

 “The impact of long COVID is causing disproportionate morbidity and disability in younger adults in their prime who provide much of the workforce, productivity and innovation in our society,” Dr. Koralnik said. “This may have a negative impact on the economy and cause additional burden on the health care system. This study highlights the importance that people of all ages suffering from Long COVID should be provided with the necessary treatment and rehabilitation services to alleviate their symptoms and improve their quality of life.”

To date, the Neuro COVID-19 Clinic has treated more than 2800 long-haulers from 44 states. For more information, visit nm.org and to schedule an appointment, please call 312.695.7950.

CHICAGO – July 30, 2024 – Known as the “woman who doesn’t like to sweat at the gym,” 70-year-old June Furlan of Arlington Heights, Ill., credits dead bugs for saving her life.

 In February 2022, Furlan noticed she was getting weaker, had less energy and struggled to stand up or walk normally. At times, she’d have to rely on her husband to help her get dressed or comb her hair. At first, Furlan blamed her age. She was 68 years old, and thought to herself, “Is this just part of getting older? It must be!”

 But, the avid gym-goer, who exercised every day and worked out with a personal trainer twice a week, knew it was more than just her age when she couldn’t lift her legs in the middle of a dead bug exercise – something she had perfected over the years.

 “On an average day, I could easily do three sets of 15 dead bugs pretty quickly, but when I couldn’t lift my legs at all, I knew something was seriously wrong,” said Furlan.

Furlan turned to Rachel Amdur, MD, an internal medicine specialist at Northwestern Medicine, who took one look at Furlan and immediately called Arjun Seth, MD, a neuromuscular specialist and co-director of the Northwestern Medicine Myositis Clinic. After running several tests, Furlan was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune muscle disease called HMGCR necrotizing myopathy (also known as myositis), which affects the muscles connected to Furlan’s bones, making it more difficult to move.

It’s estimated that approximately 50,000 to 75,000 people in the United States have myositis. Symptoms include muscle weakness, pain and fatigue. While there’s no cure for myositis, which is a type of myopathy, there are medications and physical therapy exercises to help manage the disease.

 “When my insurance company denied one of the medications I needed, Dr. Seth worked really hard to find an alternative. I currently receive monthly infusion treatments at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, which allows me to feel immediate improvement so I can get back to the gym for my daily workouts,” said Furlan.

 Myositis, also known as inflammatory myopathies, includes dermatomyositis, inclusion body myositis, anti-synthetase syndrome, immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy, and overlap syndromes. These rare and complex diseases require care across multiple disciplines. Established in 2021, the Northwestern Medicine Myositis Clinic combines the expertise of specialists in neuromuscular medicine/neurology, rheumatology, pulmonology, dermatology, and physical medicine and rehabilitation to provide the best outcomes possible through comprehensive, coordinated myositis care. Rheumatologist Christine Hsieh, MD, and Dr. Seth are co-directors of the clinic.

“Most patients are first referred to us for weakness – whether it’s not being able to lift their arms above their head or stand up. These diseases are rare, so it’s important to create a comprehensive, multidisciplinary clinic to provide the best care. We’re also enrolling patients in a clinical registry (observational study) and clinical trials to see if new drugs and therapies can help,” said Dr. Seth. “In June’s case, she’s on medications to help manage her symptoms, is back to working out and is largely back to normal in terms of her strength.” 

“Dead bugs and Dr. Seth saved my life, paving a path for me to recover,” said Furlan. “I hope my story serves as a lesson for others that sometimes symptoms aren’t related to our age, but instead, a more serious problem that should be checked out by a physician.”

To learn more or make an appointment, patients can call 312.695.7950.

CHICAGO – May 22, 2024 – As cicadas emerge across the United States, the harmless insects are bringing their traditional “sounds of summer” with loud, high-pitched noises that sound like a buzz, shrill or shriek. Cicadas have a lifespan of approximately four weeks, so while their noises are short-lived, another sound continues for millions of Americans long after summer has ended.

Tinnitus is a buzzing, ringing, hissing, whistling or clicking sound in one or both ears, which occurs in the absence of external noise for nearly 20 million Americans. Some people refer to tinnitus as sounding like “cicadas in their heads.” Five million Americans with tinnitus have pulsatile tinnitus, a rhythmic pulsing noise in one or both ears that tends to synchronize with their heartbeat. The noise is often described as a “whooshing” sound heard when the heart beats. The Northwestern Medicine Pulsatile Tinnitus Clinic is one of a few clinics in the U.S. dedicated to evaluating and treating patients with pulsatile tinnitus.

“While cicadas bring loud noises for a short period of time, it’s nothing compared to what patients with pulsatile tinnitus are hearing every single day. Some describe it as a ‘whooshing’ sound or very similar to a baby’s heartbeat on an ultrasound machine pulsating through their ears,” said Ali Shaibani, MD, interventional neuroradiologist at Northwestern Medicine who sees patients in the Pulsatile Tinnitus Clinic. “For many patients, the noise interferes with everyday life and can be debilitating. I’ve had patients come to me with suicidal thoughts or even compressed their own jugular vein to try and make the noise stop.”

Patient Story

In October 2022, Dana Pulciani woke up with a horrible “heartbeat noise” or “whooshing noise” in her left ear. If she wanted to hear people talk, she’d have to push on her jugular vein. Pulciani had been a medical assistant for 20 years before moving into an administration role at a pain management clinic, so she knew something was wrong.

The then 38-year-old scheduled an appointment with Alexander Schneider, MD, an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist at Northwestern Medicine, who immediately thought she might have pulsatile tinnitus, telling her he had only seen a handful of cases in his career. Dr. Schneider ordered an MRI, which showed a narrowing of the artery next to a small aneurysm in her brain. 

Meanwhile, Pulciani started taking yoga classes to try and train her brain to ignore the “whooshing” noise. She also joined a Facebook group called the “Whooshers” and one of the group members recommended Dr. Shaibani. That same week, Dr. Schneider was able to get Pulciani an appointment with Dr. Shaibani. 

In November 2023, Pulciani underwent minimally invasive surgery with Dr. Shaibani who placed one stent in her artery and another in the aneurysm. Immediately after waking up from surgery, the “whooshing” noise was gone. 

Pulciani is back to living a normal life and can’t thank Drs. Schneider and Shaibani enough for their care. 

Causes of Pulsatile Tinnitus

Pulsatile tinnitus occurs due to issues with blood vessels in the head and neck. Conditions range from harmless to dangerous. The causes of pulsatile tinnitus are diagnosed through a series of hearing, physical examination and imaging tests to show what’s happening inside the patient’s skull.

One of the most common causes of pulsatile tinnitus is idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIHTN), where the pressure inside the head is elevated. Many patients with this condition have a narrowing involving the two main veins that relieve the pressure in the head, by taking blood and cerebrospinal fluid back to the heart.  

“When the two large veins that bring blood out of the brain are narrowed, it can cause the ‘whooshing’ sound. It’s similar to how a whistle works – it pushes air through a narrowed space. In most cases, this can be treated with medication, but in severe cases where the patient’s vision is threatened or the medications aren’t adequate, we must open up the vein through minimally invasive endovascular surgery to reduce the pressure and relieve the tinnitus,” said Dr. Shaibani.

Aside from hearing the “whooshing” noise, the most common symptoms associated with IIHTN include daily headaches and vision issues. Symptoms can increase or decrease when a patient lies down or turns their head. Symptoms can also change when pressure is placed on the jugular vein. Pulsatile tinnitus can often be cured once the underlying cause is treated.

A less common but potentially more dangerous cause of pulsatile tinnitus is the development of a short circuit connecting arteries directly to veins (arteriovenous shunt) close to the base of the skull. The battery of tests ordered by the Pulsatile Tinnitus Clinic staff is designed to also look for this cause. Fortunately, this condition is also treatable in the vast majority of cases using minimally invasive endovascular techniques.

Treatment Options

- Medication used to tread underlying conditions such as hyperthyroidism, anemia, elevated intracranial hypertension or high blood pressure.

- Endovascular minimally invasive surgery such as stenting, can correct certain underlying conditions, including an aneurysm.

- Self-management techniques may help ease symptoms if there’s no underlying cause. These may include sound therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy and tinnitus retraining therapy.

Very few clinics in the U.S. have a multidisciplinary team of pulsatile tinnitus specialists. The Northwestern Medicine Pulsatile Tinnitus Clinic is made up of experts in many fields, including neurointerventional surgery, otolaryngology (ear, nose and throat), neurology and neuroradiology. 

To schedule an appointment, call 312-926-3185 or visit nm.org for more information.

CHICAGO – May 19, 2024 – Since July 2023, Dancing With Parkinson's – a collaborative program from Northwestern Medicine and The Joffrey Ballet – has helped more than 90 people with Parkinson’s disease and their care partners stay active while confronting the social and emotional challenges of this progressive brain disorder. On Sunday, May 19, participants from the program will take the stage for their first-ever public performance at Joffrey Tower’s Black Box Theatre. The 30-minute show will feature dances from both the Chicago and Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Health & Fitness Center classes, and will include performances from The Joffrey Ballet’s JAM (Joffrey Abilities in Motion) program, created for individuals with disabilities and neurodivergent children and teens.

“Coming out of COVID, many people with Parkinson's felt very isolated, but Dancing With Parkinson’s has created a wonderful sense of community for our patients,” said Katie Fagan, senior program coordinator and clinical social worker for the Northwestern Medicine Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Center. “In the beginning, many participants felt some initial trepidation about joining the program, either because they don't have a dance background, or because of where they are in their Parkinson's journey. The success of this class shows how willing our participants are to explore new ways to help themselves when given a supportive environment to do so.”

Attendees can expect to see the groups perform synchronized routines in both jazz and lyrical dance styles. Tom Dobrinski, a Dancing With Parkinson’s participant who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2021, says he is looking forward to the performance highlighting much of what his class has worked on over the last year.

“It’s been fun,” said Dobrinkski. “At first, I didn’t know what to expect. I’m not much of a dancer, but my balance and movement feel more fluid after class, so I keep coming back. Who knew a year later we’d be performing on a Joffrey stage. My wife and I are so fortunate to have a program like this available to us. The sense of community and camaraderie have been a plus for us in this journey.”

“As Dancing With Parkinson’s turns a year old this summer, it’s amazing to look back and think about all the people who never thought of themselves as a dancer completely embrace the artform,” said Carly Liegel, community engagement program coordinator with The Joffrey Ballet and Dancing With Parkinson’s instructor. “Between this program and our JAM classes, this show will celebrate a diverse range of ages and movement abilities. I hope it serves as a reminder that there is no right or wrong way to move. Any body is a dancing body.”

General admission tickets are free and can be reserved here. Doors to the theatre will open at 12:30 p.m., performances begin at 1:00 p.m. There is no planned intermission.

More information about Dancing With Parkinson’s

Built for individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and their care partners, Dancing With Parkinson’s aims to enhance physical, mental and emotional well-being through the joy of dance. This research-backed program connects the mind to movement, in conjunction with others and with music, to address both physical and social-emotional symptoms of the disease. Whether dancing in a standing or seated position, participants engage in movements tailored to their abilities, fostering strength, flexibility and creativity.

“Dance involves highly coordinated and controlled movements, which might help with the stiffness, slowness, and postural instability associated with Parkinson’s disease,” said Danny Bega, MD, movement disorders specialist at Northwestern Medicine. “Dance is proposed to offer cognitive and social benefits as well. The sense of community and enjoyment that comes from dancing and listening to music with other people may also address common PD-related problems such as depressed mood, fatigue, and isolation.”

The class series explores various dance styles including ballet, jazz, tap, modern and improvisation. All Dancing With Parkinson’s teachers have completed at minimum an introductory training through Dance For PD, a New York City-based program that pioneered dance classes for people with the movement disorder.

Classes are currently offered downtown at The Joffrey Ballet’s South Loop Studios and at the Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Health & Fitness Center. There is no cost for patients and their care partners to attend. Summer sessions will begin in Lake Forest, Ill., on June 24 and downtown sessions will begin on August 6.

To register for classes, or to learn more about offerings for Northwestern Medicine Parkinson’s patients, please contact movementdisorders@nm.org.

Chicago, IL – August 23, 2023 – Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, testing was limited, and many individuals couldn’t get a positive diagnosis during the window of viral shedding. This was especially important for COVID long-haulers, who were struggling with lingering symptoms such as brain fog, fatigue and cognitive impairment. Without a positive COVID-19 test, many were denied appointments at post-COVID clinics in the United States, but the Northwestern Medicine Neuro COVID-19 Clinic was an exception, evaluating new patients without a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis.  

According to new research published in Neurology® Neuroimmunology & Neuroinflammation, an official journal of the American Academy of Neurology, Northwestern Medicine researchers show 41% of long-haulers who initially tested negative for COVID-19 had antibody or T cell responses indicating they were exposed to the virus. This new research performed with very sensitive immunologic assays suggests post-COVID clinics shouldn’t require a positive COVID-19 test in order to provide care to long-haulers.

“It’s estimated that nearly 10 million Americans experienced neurologic manifestations of long COVID without an official COVID-19 diagnosis due to limited access to COVID testing in the first year of the pandemic or testing outside the window of detection,” said Igor Koralnik, MD, chief of neuroinfectious diseases and global neurology at Northwestern Medicine, who oversees the Neuro COVID-19 Clinic and is co-director of the Northwestern Medicine Comprehensive COVID-19 Center. “Millions of people in the United States have been rejected by the medical establishment and stigmatized because they didn’t carry a definite diagnosis of COVID-19 when they presented with their long COVID symptoms. We hope those people feel vindicated by our study.”

STUDY HIGHLIGHTS

-        Researchers looked at 29 long-haulers who presented to the Neuro COVID-19 Clinic between June 2020 and April 2022 with a negative COVID-19 test.

-        The median age was 43 and 93% of patients identified as female.

-        Of the 29 tested, 41% had detectable antibody or T cell responses indicating they were exposed to the virus.

-        The patients had striking similarities to long-haulers with positive COVID-19 tests in clinical presentation, quality of life measures and objective cognitive testing.

“We tested two types of immunity, both antibody and T cell responses, against two different proteins from the virus that causes COVID-19. Patients’ responses were mixed rather than all or nothing, suggesting that a comprehensive evaluation is necessary and that immunologic tests are not a one-size-fits-all for confirming prior exposure to the virus,” said Dr. Koralnik. “Post-COVID clinics shouldn’t require a positive test to provide care for long-haulers after suspected COVID-19. More research is needed to determine what causes long COVID and how to effectively treat its many symptoms.”

To date, the Neuro COVID-19 Clinic has treated more than 2,100 long-haulers from 44 states. For more information, visit nm.org and to schedule an appointment, please call 312.695.7950.

CHICAGO – July 20, 2023 – Northwestern Medicine, in partnership with The Joffrey Ballet, has announced the launch of Dancing with Parkinson’s, a transformative five-week series of classes that explores various dance styles including ballet, jazz, tap, modern and improvisation. Each class is further enhanced by the presence of a live pianist, who will accompany the participant’s movements.

Designed for individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD), this research-backed program aims to enhance physical, mental, and emotional well-being through the joy of dance. The series takes place every Thursday from July 13 to August 10 at The Joffrey Ballet’s South Loop Studios located at 1920 South Wabash Avenue, Chicago. 

“Dance involves the practice of fluid movements, postures, and body control, which may address the rigidity, slowness, and postural instability associated with PD,” said Danny Bega, MD, movement disorders specialist at Northwestern Medicine. “Dance is proposed to offer cognitive and social benefits as well. The activity requires planning movements, following music and signals, and remembering choreography. The sense of community and enjoyment that comes from dancing and listening to music with other people may also address common PD-related problems such as depressed mood, fatigue, and isolation.”

Dancing With Parkinson’s offers a supportive and inclusive environment where individuals can explore a variety of dance styles. Whether dancing in a standing or seated position, participants will engage in movements tailored to their abilities, fostering strength, flexibility, and creativity. The program’s holistic approach focuses on promoting overall well-being, empowering participants to embrace the transformative power of dance.

Space is limited to a total of thirty participants per class, and each Parkinson’s patient is invited to bring a caregiver, friend, or family member. It’s one of Northwestern Medicine’s first in-person offerings for Parkinson’s patients since the COVID-19 pandemic caused all classes and support groups to go virtual.  

“The classes are completely filled, which is a first for our program,” said Katie Fagan, senior program coordinator and clinical social worker for the Northwestern Medicine Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Center. “There’s a desire for patients and their caregivers to meet others in-person again and we’re so excited for the launch of this new program with The Joffrey Ballet. If all goes well, it’s our intention to bring back additional sessions in the fall and spring, possibly expanding location and time offerings.”

Classes are led by Carly Liegel, community engagement program coordinator with The Joffrey Ballet. In 2019, Liegel completed training with Dance for PD®, a New York City-based program that pioneered dance classes for people with Parkinson’s disease. “My goal for the class is to emphasize artistry and connection. I want to let everyone know that dance is an accessible art form for all. It’s a safe space to come how you are, express what you need, and connect with others for support, guidance, and inspiration.”

Ginger Hall, a class participant who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease two years ago, emphasized the importance of remaining active in managing her symptoms. “I do believe that the magic bullet for Parkinson’s is exercise. Even though you can’t gain what you’ve lost, you can keep Parkinson’s at bay. Post-COVID, this program reminds me of how important community is, so, I’ll come back to every class because they’re good people and it’s fun to be out with a group.” 

There is no cost for patients and their caregivers to attend the dance classes. For more information about classes and support groups for Northwestern Medicine Parkinson’s patients, visit nm.org. 

CHICAGO – July 13, 2023 – Long COVID occurs in approximately a third of COVID survivors and is now the third leading neurologic disorder in the United States. In May 2020, during the height of the pandemic, Northwestern Medicine physicians noticed this growing trend and established one of the first Comprehensive COVID-19 Centers in the United States to treat patients suffering from lingering impacts of the virus such as brain fog, shortness of breath and chest pain. Three years later, a new study published in the American Journal of Medicine reports key findings from more than 1,800 patients who were evaluated during the first 21 months at the Northwestern Medicine Comprehensive COVID-19 Center (CCC) with neurology, pulmonology and cardiology being the most commonly accessed specialties and still in high-demand today.  

“The COVID-19 public health emergency may be over, but the need for long COVID care still remains. To date, we’ve treated nearly 4,000 patients from 44 states at the CCC, and our team of 42 clinicians continue to see approximately 100 patients each month,” said Igor Koralnik, MD, chief of neuroinfectious diseases and global neurology at Northwestern Medicine, who is co-director of the Comprehensive COVID-19 Center. “The disease burden of long COVID continues to grow in this country with significant implications for the economy and population health.”

“Due to widespread vaccination, rates of acute COVID infection have decreased significantly, however, millions of patients are still suffering from persistent symptoms that may have occurred years ago,” said Marc Sala, MD, pulmonary and critical care specialist at Northwestern Medicine, who is co-director of the Comprehensive COVID-19 Center. “To date, little is known about the characteristics and outcomes of patients seeking care at multidisciplinary post-COVID centers and the approach to caring for these patients widely varies among institutions and providers. This study will help us understand what the biological causes of those symptoms are and how to structure clinics to care for them.”

KEY FINDINGS

The team evaluated 1,802 patients (350 post-hospitalization and 1,452 non-hospitalized) via telehealth or in-person at the CCC between May 2020 and February 2022. Patients were seen in 2,361 initial visits in 12 specialty clinics including neurology, pulmonology, cardiology, otolaryngology, gastroenterology, infectious diseases, endocrinology, nephrology, hematology, dermatology, psychiatry and rheumatology. Patients most commonly sought treatment from neurology (49%), pulmonology (25%) and cardiology (12%) specialists.

Among patients tested:

-        85% of patients reported decreased quality of life

-        51% had cognitive impairment

-        45% had altered lung function

-        83% had abnormal CT chest scans

-        12% had elevated heart rate on rhythm monitoring

-        Frequency of cognitive impairment and pulmonary dysfunction was associated with severity of acute COVID-19

-        Non-hospitalized patients with positive COVID-19 testing had similar findings than those with negative or no test results

DEMOGRAPHICS

-        65% of patients identified as female

-        Average age at first clinic visit was 47 years old

-        72% were White, 10% were Black, 4% were Asian and 13% were Hispanic

“The population predominantly consisted of females in their forties, and our data shows that critically ill, hospitalized, and non-hospitalized patients have distinct neurologic, pulmonary and cardiac manifestations of long COVID, which should be studied and treated differently,” said Joseph Bailey, MD, pulmonary and critical care specialist at Northwestern Medicine, who treats patients in the CCC.

“One of the key findings of this study is that there is a very wide range of long COVID manifestations that depend largely on the severity of acute COVID-19 illness, and that they can’t be treated with a ‘one size fits all’ approach,” said Dr. Koralnik. “Some patients who had severe COVID-19 may have sustained permanent organ damage, while persistent symptoms in those with mild initial disease may be caused by different mechanisms. This requires an individualized, precision medicine approach to long COVID care.”

“There is a great need for multidisciplinary clinics to form the backbone of the response to long COVID. With multiple clinicians caring for and evaluating patients under the same roof, multidisciplinary long COVID clinics can recognize and respond to different presentations and manifestations of long COVID more quickly than other care models,” added Dr. Sala. “This study is the first to show the impact of a multidisciplinary effort and could be an example for use in future viral outbreaks.”

For more information on the CCC, visit nm.org and to schedule an appointment, please call 312.926.9900.

CHICAGO -  With a demanding and stressful job, Alex McKeown made exercise a priority for his health. The 33-year-old works in investing, where he negotiates and closes deals for large retail companies. On average, McKeown was working 65 to 70 hours per week, until a routine trip to the gym changed everything.  

On May 9, McKeown was participating in a workout class at a downtown Chicago fitness center when he started feeling lightheaded, hot and sweaty. He sat down on the floor, and the fitness instructor offered McKeown water and orange juice. By the time paramedics arrived and determined he should go to the hospital, McKeown was losing control of his left arm and left leg and couldn’t stand up on his own.

“I originally told myself to just push through it, but I had two women around me – the fitness instructor and another employee – and I’m so thankful they were there and kept a watchful eye on me, because they called 911,” said McKeown. “Without them, I likely would have gone home to sleep it off, and I probably wouldn’t be talking or walking right now.”

McKeown was rushed via ambulance to Northwestern Memorial Hospital where a CT scan confirmed he was having a stroke. Even while he was in the emergency department, McKeown tried taking a work call about an impending deal he was negotiating.

“I told the medical team, ‘One second – I need to take this call.’ When they realized it wasn’t important, they told me, ‘You’re having a stroke, you need to get off the phone.’”

McKeown was taken into emergency surgery where Ali Shaibani, MD, chief of neurointerventional radiology at Northwestern Medicine, performed a minimally invasive procedure called a thrombectomy to remove a blood clot blocking blood flow into the right side of McKeown’s brain and quickly restore circulation. McKeown’s brain function returned to normal immediately after the procedure. Six days after his stroke, McKeown was discharged from Northwestern Memorial with a new lease on life, and new learnings about his health.

“Alex’s case is remarkable because we typically don’t see strokes in his age group,” said Dr. Shaibani. “You lose about 1.9 million brain cells per minute with a stroke, so we moved very quickly to clear out a large blood clot that was blocking his artery. Additionally, Alex was found to have some cardiac issues and a dilated aorta. So, this plugged him into care that he may not have otherwise received for these other conditions.”

“During his stroke workup, Alex was found to have an aortic root aneurysm and a bicuspid aortic valve (BAV), which affects about 1% of the population. We have already scheduled him for surgery to address this life-threatening condition,” said Chris Mehta, MD, cardiac surgeon at Northwestern Medicine Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute.  

BAV, the most common congenital heart disorder, is twice as likely to occur in men than women. While the cause of BAV is unclear, experts believe that it develops in the earliest stages of pregnancy and can be hereditary. Like McKeown, many patients with BAV have an enlargement of the aorta, the major blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body. If left untreated, the aneurysm can enlarge to the point of rupture. 

McKeown had open heart surgery this summer with S. Christopher Malaisrie, MD, director of the comprehensive center for aortic disease at the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute, a national destination for BAV treatment, and the source of the stroke was determined.

“Alex's aortic valve was congenitally abnormal and he had a very rare malformation called unicuspid aortic valve. The valve had a mass that was likely the cause of his stroke. The valve was not repairable as originally planned, so I did a Ross procedure for him, where we give patients a new heart valve using parts of their own body," said Dr. Malaisrie.

McKeown is now being treated by a comprehensive care team at Northwestern Medicine. He started drinking more water, eating more vegetables and established a healthier work-life balance by slowing down and taking more breaks. He even returned to the gym and is regaining his strength and momentum. 

“People think, this won’t happen to me, but guess what? I thought that too,” said McKeown. “The biggest lesson I learned from this experience is that if you think something is wrong, seek medical attention right away. Trust me, it’s worth it. If it wasn’t for the fitness staff at Studio Three – River North, and my incredible care team at Northwestern Medicine, I wouldn’t be here today.”

“It’s important to get your annual checkups. If your doctor hears a heart murmur, that should be followed up with an echocardiogram. If someone else in the family has bicuspid aortic valve, that’s also an indication to get further cardiac workup,” said Dr. Malaisrie.

“The important message here is that it’s almost never normal to not be able to move your arm, move your leg, or have a facial droop or vision problems. You should never ignore it,” said Dr. Shaibani. “Alex likely wouldn’t have made what is essentially a normal, neurologic recovery if he hadn’t made it to the hospital and been treated so quickly.”

For more information about Northwestern Medicine’s neurology and cardiovascular programs, visit nm.org.

CHICAGO - April 19, 2023 - A new Northwestern Medicine study published in Annals of Neurology shows neurological symptoms, findings and patterns of cognitive dysfunction differ between long COVID patients who were hospitalized during their acute infection and those who didn’t require hospitalization. Researchers studied the first 600 long-haulers who were evaluated at the Northwestern Medicine Neuro COVID-19 Clinic and discovered those initially hospitalized for acute COVID-19 pneumonia showed a broad pattern of cognitive impairment and lack of insight into their cognitive dysfunction, while non-hospitalized long-haulers mainly had difficulties with attention tasks.

“We were surprised to find that even though both post-hospitalization and non-hospitalized long-haulers report brain fog, there were marked differences in their pattern of cognitive dysfunction, which suggests distinct causes and mechanisms of long COVID in these populations,” said Igor Koralnik, MD, chief of neuroinfectious diseases and global neurology at Northwestern Medicine, who oversees the Neuro COVID-19 Clinic and is co-director of the Northwestern Medicine Comprehensive COVID-19 Center.

Researchers focused this study on the first 600 patients (100 post-hospitalization, 500 non-hospitalized) who had a documented COVID-19 infection and came to the Neuro COVID-19 Clinic either in person or via telemedicine between May 2020 to August 2021. Patients reported an average of seven neurologic symptoms due to COVID-19, with 91% experiencing more than four neurological symptoms.

NEUROLOGIC SYMPTOMS

-        81% experienced brain fog

-        70% experienced headaches

-        56% lost their sense of smell

-        55% had an altered sense of taste

-        50% experienced dizziness

Hospitalized patients had more abnormal neurologic exams (62% vs 37%) and performed worse on processing speed, attention and working memory tasks. Non-hospitalized patients had lower results in attention tasks only.

NON-NEUROLOGIC SYMPTOMS

-        86% experienced fatigue

-        69% experienced depression/anxiety

-        57% had insomnia

-        48% experienced shortness of breath

-        34% self-reported variation of heart rate and blood pressure

-        30% experienced chest pain

-        27% had gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting or diarrhea

Of these symptoms, only shortness of breath and chest pain were significantly more frequent in the post-hospitalization group than non-hospitalized.

DEMOGRAPHICS AND COMORBIDITIES

Both groups demonstrated significant altered quality of life in domains of cognition, fatigue, sleep, anxiety and depression compared to the U.S. normative population, but have significant differences in demographics and comorbidities.

Of the 100 post-hospitalization patients

-        Average age was 54, 58% were female, 62% were White, 18% Black, 3% Asian, and 19% Hispanic

-        Post-hospitalization patients more frequently than non-hospitalized had hypertension (39% vs 15%), high cholesterol (22% vs 13%), type II diabetes (21% vs 4%), lung diseases (16% vs 4%) and cardiovascular diseases (10% vs 2%)

Of the 500 non-hospitalized patients

-        Average age was 45, 66% were female, 77% were White, 8% were Black, 4% were Asian and 12% were Hispanic   

-        Non-hospitalized patients were more likely than post-hospitalization patients to suffer from depression/anxiety prior to COVID-19 (40% vs 9%)

The demographic, comorbidities, clinical and cognitive differences highlighted in the study suggest distinct etiologies of long COVID in hospitalized and non-hospitalized patients, warranting targeted interventions.

“For patients previously hospitalized with COVID-19, it’s possible they suffered diffuse brain damage, which could have been caused by a combination of hypoxemia, cytokine storm, multi-organ failure, or encephalopathy which may not be visible on brain CT or MRI. This is consistent with the broad cognitive dysfunction harbored by these patients,” said Dr Koralnik. “Conversely, the female predominance of non-hospitalized patients suggests an autoimmune etiology of long COVID in this population, perhaps triggered by viral persistence. Indeed, women are more likely than men to develop autoimmune diseases.”

Of the 600 patients involved in the study, 43% were vaccinated and all but one patient became infected before vaccination. At the time of their clinic visit, patients felt approximately 60% recovered back to their pre-COVID baseline.

Northwestern Medicine researchers plan to continue studying long COVID over the adult lifespan, comparing patients 18-44 years old, 45-64 years old, and over 65 years old to determine if there are differences between those groups and if either group was more affected at a specific time of the pandemic by different circulating strains.

“Long COVID occurs in approximately a third of COVID-19 survivors and is now the third leading neurologic disorder in the United States. Long COVID has a significant detrimental effect in patients’ quality of life and has pushed an estimated one million people out of work in the U.S.,” said Dr. Koralnik. “Considering the large number of people impacted by long COVID and the continuing potential for infection leading to persistent and potentially disabling neurological symptoms, there should be a greater emphasis on funding research on the root causes of long COVID leading to clinical trials in the U.S.”

To date, the Neuro COVID-19 Clinic has treated nearly 2,000 long-haulers. For more information, visit nm.org and to schedule an appointment, please call 312.695.7950.

“It was awesome seeing Jason run the Chicago Marathon,” said Dr. Jahromi. “Three years ago, he was half-paralyzed with a large and dangerous brain aneurysm, and now he just finished the Chicago Marathon with a personal best. It’s an incredible comeback, and as his neurosurgeon, I couldn’t be prouder of Jason.”

“I almost had a shirt made up that said, ‘If found on road, please return to Dr. Jahromi,’” joked DePetris. “I just kept telling myself to keep my legs moving, keep my legs moving. I ran the entire race without having to walk and finished with a personal best of 4:10:37. Chicago and I had unfinished business, and I’m very happy with the outcome.” 

In October 2019, DePetris was 41 years old and preparing for his second marathon of the year – the Chicago Marathon. Jason was healthy with no history of medical conditions. 

On October 12, 2019, the morning before the marathon, DePetris was grabbing breakfast at a Chicago restaurant with his husband and mother, when suddenly his left hand went numb. As the numbness spread up his arm, DePetris’ mouth started to droop, and his speech was slurring.  

DePetris’ family called 911, and luckily, he didn’t have far to go. The restaurant was connected to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in downtown Chicago. 

DePetris was brought into the emergency department, where doctors told him he was having a stroke. Dr. Jahromi was working that morning, and quickly performed a thrombectomy, which is a type of surgery to remove a blood clot from a blood vessel using a catheter. Thrombectomies can reduce the risk of death or permanent disability in stroke patients. 

Not only did the thrombectomy save DePetris’ life, but it led to the discovery of a large brain aneurysm.

“Jason’s blocked artery had a brain aneurysm in the middle, which made it much more complex to open the artery and not bust open the aneurysm at the same time,” said Dr. Jahromi. 

The next day, DePetris couldn’t run the Chicago Marathon. Instead, he was recovering in a hospital room at Northwestern Memorial.

After returning to California, DePetris’ recovery continued. Due to the stroke, he suffered weakness on the left side, causing his left knee to sometimes collapse. DePetris also had a lack of dexterity in his left hand and some minor visual problems. However, he was determined to get back to running – especially the Chicago Marathon. 

During the COVID pandemic, DePetris slowly ramped up his physical training, so when it came time to really train for Chicago, his body would be able to handle a real marathon training plan – and it worked. On Sunday, Oct. 9, DePetris set a personal best at the Chicago Marathon of 4:10:37 with Dr. Jahromi cheering from the sidelines and greeting DePetris at the finish line.

“Dr. Jahromi is more than just a doctor; he truly cares and is invested in his patients,” said DePetris. “Be grateful for everything you have – it can change in a split second. I was in good shape and had never even spent the night in the hospital before my stroke. I’ve learned I can take a lot more punches than I thought I could.”

DePetris signed up as a charity runner for the Chicago Marathon, raising money for the Brain Injury Recovery Foundation, which supports those who have suffered brain or spinal cord injuries. He also wrote a book about his experience, and 100% of proceeds are donated to the Brain Aneurysm Foundation.

WARRENVILLE, Ill. -  Northwestern Medicine and the Warrenville Fire Protection District are collaborating to offer life-saving stroke diagnosis and treatment to residents of the western suburb. Northwestern Medicine’s Mobile Stroke Unit (MSU) can now be directly dispatched for suspected cases of stroke in Warrenville.

The first of its kind in Illinois, Northwestern Medicine’s MSU has a 16-slice CT scanner, telemedicine connections and stroke-specific medications. The team is comprised of a critical care nurse, a CT technician, an EMT technician driver, and a critical care paramedic.

On average, Northwestern Medicine’s MSU provides life-saving treatment 30 minutes faster than traditional transport.

“We are getting a 30-minute head start by bringing the emergency room to the patient,” said Harish Shownkeen, MD, medical director of the Stroke and Neurointerventional Surgery Programs at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital. “The earlier you treat the patient the better their outcome.  Patients who get treated right away often go home from the hospital instead of to a nursing home or rehabilitation.”

If a patient is suffering stroke-like symptoms, both the MSU and Warrenville Fire Protection Advance Life Support (ALS) ambulance will be dispatched. The patient will undergo an assessment and CT scan to determine if they are suffering a stroke. The testing will also determine what type and appropriate immediate treatment. If it is not a stroke, the Warrenville ALS providers will take command of the patient’s care and transport if necessary.

“When a patient is having a stroke, seconds count. The Warrenville Fire Protection District is pleased to partner with Northwestern Medicine to offer this life-changing and lifesaving initiative to the residents and visitors of our district,” said Andrew Dina, Fire Chief, Warrenville Fire Protection District. “Through this partnership we will improve outcomes and save lives. Introducing the Mobile Stroke Unit program aligns with the fire district’s vision of pursuing excellence in emergency medical services by continually finding ways to make improvements in all that we do.”

Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital’s Mobile Stroke Unit can be directly dispatched by 9-1-1 to patients within the hospital’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) area, which includes Carol Stream, Bartlett, Glen Ellyn, Glenside, Hanover Park, Roselle, Warrenville, West Chicago, Wheaton and Winfield. For areas in the secondary region that includes St. Charles, Geneva, Batavia, Elburn, Big Rock, Sugar Grove, North Aurora and Fox River/Countryside, fire protection districts and ambulance services can request the MSU for patients who meet stroke criteria.

Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in Illinois and the leading cause of serious long-term disability according to the Centers for Disease Control.

If you suspect someone is having a stroke, act F.A.S.T.

•       Face: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?

•       Arms: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

•       Speech: Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Are the words slurred? Can he/she repeat the sentence correctly?

•       Time: if the person shows any of these symptoms, time is IMPORTANT. Call 911 fast.  Brain cells are dying!

Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital has earned the Advanced Comprehensive Stroke Center designation by The Joint Commission. The highest level of stroke certification, this designation recognizes the significant resources in staff, training and state-of-the-art infrastructure that comprehensive stroke centers must have to treat complex cases.

The Warrenville Fire Protection District is located 24 miles due west of Chicago in the west central portion of DuPage County. The fire district covers 18 square miles of residential, commercial and medium high-rise buildings serving a population of 20,000 residents that increases with a daytime labor composition of 40,000 people within the fire district.

To learn more about Northwestern Medicine, visit nm.org.

ORLAND PARK, Ill. - A new Northwestern Medicine multi-specialty clinic is enhancing access to high-quality subspecialty care in the south suburbs. The 5,523-square-foot clinic, located in Suite 210, Northwestern Medicine Orland Park, 15300 West Avenue, is now offering neurology services. Esophageal and hepatology subspecialties will be added this summer.

“One of the biggest benefits of this multi-specialty clinic is the seamless integration into the rest of the Northwestern Medicine system,” says Neuro-oncologist and Neurology Regional Ambulatory Director Rimas V. Lukas, MD. “With the well-established framework at Orland Park, our team is thrilled to focus on further developing need-based specialties and identifying what additional services are most valuable to this patient population.”

As part of the broader Northwestern Medicine expansion and clinical integration strategy, the new clinic will provide access to Northwestern Memorial Hospital’s top-ranked neurology program, including fellowship-trained specialists in epilepsy, movement disorders, headache, sleep health, multiple sclerosis, neuromuscular and more. Neurologists in Orland Park will collaborate closely with the Neurosurgery team at Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital, which is also expanding.

Stephan U. Schuele, MD, head of the Epilepsy Division at Northwestern Medicine, says the clinic will provide an easier entrance to subspecialty services for people in south suburban communities. "The patients I see with chronic epilepsy often cannot drive, and patients with seizures typically want care more quickly," says Dr. Schuele. "This clinic will allow us to provide a more accessible epilepsy program in the south suburbs, whereby these patients can now be seen by Northwestern Medicine specialists who provide world-class care."

Continued Growth at Northwestern Medicine Orland Park

To complement existing and general gastroenterology offerings in the south suburbs, esophageal and hepatology subspecialties will be available at the new clinic in the coming months.

“Data supports that overall survival in patients with end-stage liver disease, for example, is directly related to proximity to care," says General Hepatologist and Transplant Hepatologist Justin R. Boike, MD. "By bringing esophageal and hepatology subspecialty care closer to this population of patients, we can help to eliminate one of the biggest logistical challenges to receiving care that can improve patient outcomes.