What causes fatigue in long COVID and in healthy people
Neurobiological Mechanisms of Fatigue in Health and after COVID-19
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA · NIH-11134652
This project looks at how the brain and muscles create different kinds of fatigue in people with long COVID and in people without COVID.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (GAINESVILLE, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11134652 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
The team uses a new "fatigue paradigm" to measure three parts of fatigue: feeling of weariness, the sense of effort after exertion, and willingness to do effortful tasks, in both healthy volunteers and people with post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC). They combine neuromuscular tests, decision-making tasks from neuroeconomics, and computational modeling to produce objective, quantitative measures rather than relying only on self-report. The K99 phase experiments will be run through Dr. Vikram Chib's Neuroeconomic Laboratory at the Kennedy Krieger Institute/Johns Hopkins, led by a University of Florida investigator. The aim is to identify distinct brain and body signatures for each fatigue feature that could explain why fatigue varies across individuals and illnesses.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with a history of COVID-19 who continue to experience significant, persistent fatigue (PASC) are the primary candidates, with healthy volunteers enrolled for comparison.
Not a fit: People whose fatigue is due to causes not addressed in this project (for example isolated sleep disorders, metabolic causes, or those unable to perform the in-person effort tasks) may not get direct benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could enable clearer tests to classify types of fatigue and point to more targeted treatments for long COVID and other chronic conditions.
How similar studies have performed: Some prior studies have linked brain and muscle signals to fatigue, but combining neuromuscular, neuroeconomic, and computational approaches to separate multiple fatigue features is a novel and still experimental approach.
Where this research is happening
GAINESVILLE, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA — GAINESVILLE, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: CASAMENTO MORAN, AGOSTINA — UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
- Study coordinator: CASAMENTO MORAN, AGOSTINA
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions: COVID-19 infection, COVID-19 virus infection, COVID19 infection, Chronic Disease