We're closer to learning how to treat and prevent Long COVID

Last year, I wrote about the startling number of people with Long COVID who experience suicidal thoughts. In multiple interviews for that story, people told me that any amount of hope for the future would make living with Long COVID easier. Since then, I’ve tried to spotlight positive news on Long COVID when I can.

It isn’t always easy, since there is still no proven way to treat or prevent Long COVID, and the number of people diagnosed with the often-debilitating condition continues to grow. But over the past few weeks, I noticed a few studies on promising therapies that may either help prevent Long COVID from developing or treat its symptoms. The most intriguing was on metformin, a Type 2 diabetes drug that slashed the risk of getting Long COVID by up to 60% in the trial.

It’s important to note that this finding is preliminary, and much more research is needed before we can get anywhere close to saying there’s a way to prevent or cure Long COVID. But in a field that can seem bleak, it's worth highlighting some cautious optimism.

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