What in the brain causes fatigue after COVID-19

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

The trial will enroll adults aged 18–75 who meet the Thaweethai criteria for PASC (score >12) and who currently report fatigue or brain fog using standard symptom checklists and the PedsQL. Participants will undergo tests that induce or probe physical fatigue alongside neurobiological measurements to characterize neural responses associated with their symptoms. Data will be used to identify candidate brain systems and pathways that could be targeted by drugs or rehabilitative approaches. The work is being conducted at the Kennedy Krieger Institute in collaboration with NINDS.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* Age 18 to 75 years old.
* Have received a clinical diagnosis of post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC)/long COVID syndrome using the criteria specified by Thaweethai, et al., 2023 (JAMA). This symptom checklist provides a score based on the number and severity of symptoms. An individual with a score \>12 is classified as having PASC.
* Currently experiencing Fatigue/Brain Fog as assessed with the Post-COVID symptom checklist and the PedsQL questionnaire.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Neurological disorders including, but not limited to, stroke, head injury, epilepsy, seizures, brain tumors, brain surgery, Parkinson's Disease, or any other neuromuscular disease (self-report).
* Diagnosed history of severe psychiatric diseases such as depression and schizophrenia (self-report).
* Congestive heart failure.
* Peripheral artery disease with claudication.
* Cancer.
* Pulmonary or renal failure.
* Unstable angina.
* Uncontrolled hypertension (more than 190/110 mmHg).
* Severe aphasia.
* Orthopedic or pain conditions.
* Have had exposure to metal or metal implants, due to the hazardous effects of the magnetic field.
* If on immunomodulatory therapy, they must have been on that therapy for at least 6 months before the start of the study.

Healthy age- and sex-matched controls for PASC - Exclusion criteria: Participants with a history of any of the following will be excluded from the study:

* Hospitalization due to SARS-CoV-2 infection.
* Neurological disorders including, but not limited to, stroke, head injury, epilepsy, seizures, brain tumors, brain surgery, Parkinson's Disease, or any other neuromuscular disease (self-report).
* Diagnosed history of severe psychiatric diseases such as depression and schizophrenia (self-report).
* Congestive heart failure.
* Peripheral artery disease with claudication.

Where it's running

• Kennedy Krieger Institute
  Baltimore, Maryland, United States Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Vikram Chib, PhD — Johns Hopkins University; Kennedy Krieger Institute
• Study coordinator: Anthony Gonzalez
• Email: gonzalezan@kennedykrieger.org
• Phone: 443-923-2716

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.