TDCS-potentiated Generalization of Cognitive Training in the Rehabilitation of Long COVID Symptoms

University of Minnesota

Overview

The overarching goals of this study are to employ cognitive testing to understand how transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), when used concurrently with cognitive training tasks, can affect cognitive impairment symptoms in individuals with long COVID, or post-acute sequelae SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), and to examine variability in response between active and sham tDCS treatment groups.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

TRIPLE

Conditions

Post-acute Sequelae SARS-CoV-2 Infection (PASC)

Interventions

Active tDCSOTHER

cognitive training + active-tDCS tDCS twice a day (two 13 minute sessions per day, each 2mA / 25cm² = 0.08 current density; anode on left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex F3, cathode on right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex F4) for five consecutive days.

Sham tDCSOTHER

cognitive training + sham-tDCS tDCS twice a day (two 13 minute sessions per day, each 2mA / 25cm² = 0.08 current density; anode on left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex F3, cathode on right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex F4) for five consecutive days.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 60 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Ability to provide consent and comply with study procedures * Age 18 to 60 years old * Estimated IQ within the specified range (70 \<= IQ E \<= 115) * Current post-acute sequelae SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) as defined by the National Center for Health Statistics post-COVID-19 conditions survey ((Long COVID 2022), including impaired cognition symptoms, for at least 3 months post-infection * Ability to participate in four weekly 40' training sessions over four weeks and participate in two assessments * English speaking Exclusion Criteria: * Any medical condition or treatment with neurological sequelae (e.g. stroke, tumor, loss of consciousness \>30 min, concussion involving hospital admission, HIV) * Contraindications for tDCS (e.g. history of seizures) * Five or more sessions of neuromodulation (such as tDCS) or cognitive training in the past 6 months

Locations (1)

University of Minnesota

Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Cognitive improvement effects of WM training with active tDCS vs. sham

shown by WM task progression and performance on cognitive testing measures

Time frame: baseline and post-test assessment, 4 weeks

Generalization of cognitive effects of active tDCS vs. sham

includes effect on PASC-related cognitive impairment symptoms

Time frame: baseline and post-test assessment, 4 weeks

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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