At a glance
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RECOVER-NEURO: A Platform Protocol for Evaluation of Interventions for Cognitive Dysfunction in Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Infection (PASC)
In Brief
A clinical study evaluating BrainHQ/Active Comparator Activity, BrainHQ, and 3 other interventions for Long COVID and 2 related conditions. Completed, enrolled 328 participants across 1 site.
Detailed Summary
This platform protocol is designed to be flexible so that it is suitable for a wide range of settings within health care systems, for remote settings, and in community settings where it can be integrated into COVID-19 programs and subsequent treatment plans. This protocol is a prospective, multi-center, multi-arm, randomized, controlled platform trial evaluating potential interventions for PASC-mediated cognitive dysfunction. The hypothesis is that PASC-associated dysfunction in cognitive domains, such as executive function and attention, may be improved by interventions that selectively focus on enhancing those domains. This design seeks to evaluate each intervention relative to the Active Comparator. The BrainHQ (alone) arm is important because the intervention is commercially available, accessible, relatively inexpensive, and does not require trained personnel to administer. BrainHQ has been also been proven effective in other studies of cognitive dysfunction such as studies in aging, mild cognitive impairment, traumatic brain injury, among others. The BrainHQ + PASC CoRE arm and the BrainHQ + tDCS arms are suspected to provide cognitive improvements beyond BrainHQ alone through different mechanisms. Both PASC CoRE and tDCS have extensive prior use and have demonstrated utility in improving aspects of cognitive function in other clinical settings..
Study Details
Timeline
Interventions
BrainHQ platform provides a set of cognitive activities, like puzzles and games, that are cognitively stimulating and actively engage participants but do not continuously and adaptively challenge them. These activities are designed to be a face-valid, active comparison approach to cognitive therapy, thus participants are blinded, attention time is matched, and overall user experience is identical to the active arms.
BrainHQ is an online cognitive training program, and has been used to improve cognitive function among persons with cognitive impairment based on principles of neuroplasticity.
PASC CoRE is a manualized, adaptable cognitive rehabilitation intervention adapted from Goal Management Training and other evidence based programs that improve attention and executive functions, among other cognitive domains.
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) will use a device specifically for home-based use. This device delivers a weak electrical current of 2.0 mA passed through two electrodes placed on the scalp to target the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex region of the brain. The electrodes are single-use for each session and can be attached to a headset by snapping into place. The device has a user-friendly interface and a large-button keypad, making it is easy to use at home.
tDCS devices used in the sham arm will be pre-programmed to deliver the same ramp up/down at the beginning/end of the 30-minute period as the active arm, except with no current otherwise delivered during the session.