About this trial
This proposal aims to understand the neurobiological mechanisms of fatigue in individuals with Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Infection (PASC). This knowledge will eventually provide candidate mechanisms to target with pharmacological intervention and inform rehabilitative care for those individuals suffering from symptoms of fatigue in PASC.
Eligibility criteria
This trial accepts healthy volunteersQualifiers
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.
Disqualifiers
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.
Trial design
Parallel
Treatments tested in this trial
Physical Fatigue
BehavioralParticipants will perform a physically demanding task (grip force exertion task) repeatedly to induce physical fatigue.
Treatment groups
Trial outcomes
Primary outcomes
Comparison between PASC and HC - difference in mean Assessment Error
The difference between the level of effort rated by participants, and their average grip force exerted on a grip force dynamometer. Compared between PASC and HC.
Comparing between PASC and HC - difference in BBB permeability
Collected from and MRI sequence designed to measure BBB permeability.
Comparing between PASC and HC - Regions of the brain that are sensitive to Assessment error as a function of disease state
We will examine an fMRI contrast, at the time of effort assessment, between HC and PASC groups. This contrast will examine percent signal change in brain activity.
The modulatory effect of BBB permeability on the relationship between Neural Activity and Effort Assessment
We will create a structural equation model that includes BBB permeability, fMRI activity, effort assessment behavior, and disease state (PASC/HC).
Sponsors and contacts
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Hugo W. Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger, Inc.
Lead sponsor
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Collaborator