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

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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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.

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

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

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Active tDCS
* Other: Sham tDCS


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Ability to provide consent and comply with study procedures Age 18 to 60 years old Estimated IQ within the specified range (70 &lt;= IQ E &lt;= 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 &gt;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

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 60 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Triple


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Cognitive training + active-tDCS<br>Cognitive training + active-tDCS 4 times per week (20 minutes per session, each ( 25cm²; current density = 0.08 mA/cm²); anode on left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex F3, cathode on right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex F4) for four weeks. | Other: Active tDCS<br>* 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.<br>|
| Sham Comparator: Cognitive training + sham-tDCS<br>Cognitive training + sham-tDCS 4 times per week (20 minutes per session, each  25cm²; current density = 0.08 mA/cm²); anode on left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex F3, cathode on right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex F4) for four weeks. | Other: Sham tDCS<br>* 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.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Cognitive improvement effects of WM training with active tDCS vs. sham | shown by WM task progression and performance on cognitive testing measures | baseline and post-test assessment, 4 weeks | 
| Generalization of cognitive effects of active tDCS vs. sham | includes effect on PASC-related cognitive impairment symptoms | baseline and post-test assessment, 4 weeks |