Bill Overview
Title: To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the National Institutes of Health, to conduct a study on the neurological impacts of COVID-19 on individuals with a neurological disease.
Description: This bill requires the National Institutes of Health to study and report on the neurological impacts of COVID-19 on individuals with a neurological disease.
Sponsors: Rep. Keating, William R. [D-MA-9]
Target Audience
Population: people diagnosed with a neurological disease
Estimated Size: 15000000
- The bill specifically targets individuals who have a neurological disease.
- The study focuses on the effects of COVID-19, which has had global exposure and thus could impact anyone in the world with a neurological disease.
- According to the WHO, about one billion people worldwide are affected by neurological disorders, which include a wide range of diseases such as Alzheimer's, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, and Parkinson's.
- Given the global spread of COVID-19, individuals with these conditions worldwide may have experienced neurological impacts directly or indirectly due to the virus.
Reasoning
- The target population for this policy includes individuals with neurological diseases who may have been impacted by COVID-19, either directly through infection or indirectly through factors like healthcare accessibility during the pandemic.
- Given the budget, the study may be limited in scope regarding the number of participants or the comprehensiveness of data collected, but it could still provide significant insights, especially for underrepresented groups.
- Individuals with different neurological conditions may experience varied impacts from the policy due to differing prior health statuses and COVID-19 effects on their condition.
- The U.S. population includes many with common neurological diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, epilepsy, etc., which means a relatively widespread impact potential within the target group.
Simulated Interviews
Retired (New York, NY)
Age: 72 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm hopeful that this study will provide more information on how COVID-19 has affected people like me.
- Getting detailed insights into our condition could improve future treatments.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Software Engineer (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 54 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 20/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The study could help me understand why COVID-19 seemed to make my symptoms worse and what I can do about it.
- I hope it leads to better treatment protocols.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Artist (Chicago, IL)
Age: 40 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm interested in the distant impacts of COVID-19 because I didn't catch it, but my neurological health is a constant concern.
- The study might still offer insights on preventive measures.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Retired teacher (Houston, TX)
Age: 67 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I personally faced severe COVID-19, which definitely worsened my Parkinson's.
- A study like this could accelerate finding therapies tailored to our unique situations.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Freelancer (Miami, FL)
Age: 35 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 18/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Although my condition isn't as severe as others', I'd still value knowing how COVID-19 potentially impacted the frequency and intensity of my migraines.
- The study could foster a broader understanding.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Graduate Student (Seattle, WA)
Age: 25 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- More insights into how COVID-19 interacts with epilepsy would be incredibly helpful for managing my health.
- I'm optimistic this study will lead to tailored epilepsy management strategies.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Construction Worker (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 16/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Anything that helps buffer our health system's readiness for issues like this is good.
- Even though I avoided the virus, understanding potential impacts is useful.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Data Analyst (Denver, CO)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- My mental health took a hit alongside my MS symptoms when I had COVID-19.
- I hope the study brings emphasis on mental health in the context of neuro diseases.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Research Scientist (Boston, MA)
Age: 48 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 19/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The stress from the pandemic worsened my chronic migraines.
- While I managed to avoid COVID-19, understanding stress-related impacts is valuable.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Entrepreneur (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 30 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Although my symptoms were mild, I'm concerned about potential long-term effects.
- The study might highlight preventive strategies before things get worse.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $12000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $15000000)
Year 2: $12000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $15000000)
Year 3: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 5: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The study will provide essential insights into a subset of the population significantly impacted by COVID-19, enhancing future health interventions.
- Collaborative opportunities with international research organizations could provide financial or data support.
- Understanding regional variations may help better allocate resources across demographic groups.