Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Long COVID Brain Fog and Fatigue
NCT07709234, Not applicable, Not yet recruiting, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
Trial 10
As registered on ClinicalTrials.gov, in the graph's capture of the registry.
| Field | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Title | Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Long COVID Brain Fog and Fatigue | ClinicalTrials.gov |
| NCT number | NCT07709234 | ClinicalTrials.gov |
| Status | Not yet recruiting | ClinicalTrials.gov |
| Phases | Not applicable | ClinicalTrials.gov |
| Enrollment | 20 participants, estimated | ClinicalTrials.gov |
| Lead sponsor | University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria | ClinicalTrials.gov |
| Conditions | Long COVID, Post-COVID Conditions, Fatigue, Cognitive Dysfunction | ClinicalTrials.gov |
| Interventions | Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation | ClinicalTrials.gov |
| First posted | 2026-07-16 | ClinicalTrials.gov |
| Last updated | 2026-07-22 | ClinicalTrials.gov |
Registered outcomes 13
Each outcome the trial registered, primary first, in ClinicalTrials.gov's words.
| List | Outcome | Time frame | Description | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary | Change in EuroQol 5-Dimension 5-Level Questionnaire Score | Baseline and 3 days after completion of the 30-session tDCS intervention | Health-related quality of life will be assessed using the EuroQol 5-Dimension 5-Level questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L). The EQ-5D-5L assesses five health dimensions: mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression, each rated across five levels of severity. Higher scores or index values reflect better health status, depending on the scoring method used. Changes from baseline to post-intervention will be evaluated. | ClinicalTrials.gov |
| Primary | Change in Modified Fatigue Impact Scale Score | Baseline and 3 days after completion of the 30-session tDCS intervention | Fatigue will be assessed using the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS). The MFIS assesses the impact of fatigue on physical, cognitive, and psychosocial functioning. The total score ranges from 0 to 84, with higher scores indicating greater fatigue impact. Changes from baseline to post-intervention will be evaluated. | ClinicalTrials.gov |
| Primary | Change in Montreal Cognitive Assessment Score | Baseline and 3 days after completion of the 30-session tDCS intervention | Global cognitive function will be assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). The MoCA evaluates cognitive domains including attention, memory, language, visuospatial abilities, executive function, abstraction, calculation, and orientation. The total score ranges from 0 to 30, with higher scores indicating better cognitive performance. Changes from baseline to post-intervention will be evaluated. | ClinicalTrials.gov |
| Primary | Change in Short Form-36 Health Survey Score | Baseline and 3 days after completion of the 30-session tDCS intervention | Health-related quality of life will be assessed using the Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36). The SF-36 evaluates eight domains of health-related quality of life: physical functioning, role limitations due to physical health, role limitations due to emotional problems, energy/fatigue, emotional well-being, social functioning, pain, and general health. Scores are transformed to a 0-100 scale, with higher scores indicating better health-related quality of life. Changes from baseline to post-intervention will be evaluated. | ClinicalTrials.gov |
| Primary | Change in Verbal Fluency Task Performance | Baseline and 3 days after completion of the 30-session tDCS intervention | Verbal fluency will be assessed using verbal fluency tasks. Performance will be evaluated based on the number of correct words generated within the specified time period. Higher scores indicate better verbal fluency performance. Changes from baseline to post-intervention will be evaluated. | ClinicalTrials.gov |
| Primary | Change in Stroop Test Performance | Baseline and 3 days after completion of the 30-session tDCS intervention | Executive function, inhibitory control, and cognitive flexibility will be assessed using the Stroop test. Performance will be evaluated using test-specific measures such as response accuracy and/or completion time. Better performance is reflected by higher accuracy and/or shorter completion time, depending on the scoring method used. Changes from baseline to post-intervention will be evaluated. | ClinicalTrials.gov |
| Secondary | Change in Brain Metabolism | Baseline and 3 days after completion of the 30-session tDCS intervention | Brain metabolism will be assessed using positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT). Changes from baseline to post-intervention will be evaluated. | ClinicalTrials.gov |
| Secondary | Change in Heart Rate Variability | Baseline and 3 days after completion of the 30-session tDCS intervention | Autonomic nervous system activity will be assessed using heart rate variability (HRV) recorded under resting conditions. Time-domain, frequency-domain, and non-linear HRV indices will be evaluated to characterize changes in autonomic regulation. | ClinicalTrials.gov |
| Secondary | Change in Endurance Capacity | Baseline and 3 days after completion of the 30-session tDCS intervention | Endurance capacity will be assessed using the Ekblom-Bak submaximal cycle ergometer test. Heart rate responses, perceived exertion, estimated maximal oxygen uptake, and internal load will be evaluated under standardized conditions. | ClinicalTrials.gov |
| Secondary | Change in Handgrip Strength | Baseline and 3 days after completion of the 30-session tDCS intervention | Upper-limb muscle strength will be assessed using handgrip dynamometry. Participants will perform three maximal attempts, and the highest value will be used for analysis. | ClinicalTrials.gov |
| Secondary | Change in Lower-Limb Neuromuscular Performance | Baseline and 3 days after completion of the 30-session tDCS intervention | Lower-limb neuromuscular performance will be assessed using the countermovement jump test performed on a force platform. Variables related to force and power production will be evaluated. | ClinicalTrials.gov |
| Secondary | Tolerability of the tDCS Intervention | During each tDCS session throughout the 30-session intervention period | Tolerability of the tDCS intervention will be assessed during each stimulation session using session monitoring records and participant reports. Tolerability will be evaluated based on the number of completed tDCS sessions out of the 30 scheduled sessions and the participant's ability to complete each session without clinically relevant discomfort. A higher number of completed sessions indicates greater intervention tolerability | ClinicalTrials.gov |
| Secondary | Adverse Effects Related to tDCS | During each tDCS session throughout the 30-session intervention period | Adverse effects related to tDCS will be monitored and recorded at each stimulation session. Potential adverse effects include tingling, itching, headache, discomfort, burning sensation, dizziness, or transient erythema at the electrode site. The presence, type, and severity of adverse effects will be documented. Severity will be classified as mild, moderate, or severe. | ClinicalTrials.gov |
Outcomes 0
Each outcome the trial posted results for, in ClinicalTrials.gov's words.
| Type | Outcome | Time frame | Population | Units | Measured as | Source |
|---|
Results by group 0
Each measurement the trial posted, group by group, in the words and numbers it posted.
| Outcome | Group | Category | Value | Spread | Units | Source |
|---|
Participant flow 0
How many started, completed or left each group, period by period.
| Period | Milestone | Group | Participants | Units counted | Source |
|---|
Adverse events 0
Each adverse event the trial posted, group by group: the participants affected out of those at risk.
| Type | Event | Organ system | Group | Affected | At risk | Events | Source |
|---|
Adverse event totals 0
The totals the trial posted for each group.
| Total | Group | Affected | At risk | Source |
|---|
Papers 0
The papers the trial lists on ClinicalTrials.gov.
| PMID | Listed as | Source |
|---|
Grants 0
The grants NIH RePORTER links to the trial, newest funded first: NIH's, and some of AHRQ's, CDC's, FDA's and VA's. Each shows its title, principal investigators, organization and funder in its newest year.
| Project | Title | Principal investigators | Organization | Funder | Fiscal years | Source |
|---|
Trial comparisons 0
Comparisons of the trial's two groups, calculated by ConductScience from the counts it posted.
| Comparison | Source |
|---|
Tests 2
The ConductCognition tests this trial's registered outcomes name, as ScienceGraph matched them in trial-tests-2026-11-12-0.2.1.
| Test | Named as | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Stroop Color-Word Test | Primary outcome | ConductCognition |
| Verbal Fluency | Primary outcome | ConductCognition |
Source 5
| Field | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Release | trials-2026-11-12-0.4.0 | ClinicalTrials.gov |
| Release manifest SHA-256 | 0f4a8d8c48aee2a7573ae0fa94ecbeab70c1adbe449bbc95c424bc7d3e97b9d4 | ClinicalTrials.gov |
| Registry capture | 2026-11-12 | ClinicalTrials.gov |
| Results copy, AACT | 2026-03-23 | ClinicalTrials.gov |
| NIH clinical studies file | 2026-11-13 | ClinicalTrials.gov |
Release trials-2026-11-12-0.4.0
ClinicalTrials.gov's posted results, through CTTI's AACT: ClinicalTrials.gov data via Aggregate Analysis of ClinicalTrials.gov (AACT), CTTI. CTTI makes its materials freely available and requests acknowledgement. https://aact.ctti-clinicaltrials.org/documentation/299 ClinicalTrials.gov's data carry an international copyright outside the United States: https://clinicaltrials.gov/about-site/terms-conditions.
ClinicalTrials.gov: none stated ClinicalTrials.gov's data carry an international copyright outside the United States: https://clinicaltrials.gov/about-site/terms-conditions.
NIH RePORTER's clinical studies and project files: Public domain (NIH RePORTER)