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Zapping the brain to clear long COVID fog: a new hope?

NCT ID NCT07709234

Symptom relief Sponsor: University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

What the study statuses mean

This study's is highlighted.

Recruitment status, easiest to join first

Recruiting now
This trial is taking on new participants right now.
Not yet recruiting This study
Registered, but not yet taking participants.
By invitation only
Not open to general applications. Only people the study team invites can take part.
Paused
Paused for now. It may or may not start again.
Ongoing
Running, but no longer taking on new participants.
Completed
The trial has finished. Results may not be published yet.
Stopped early
Stopped early, before it reached the end. That can be for many reasons, including safety.
Cancelled
Cancelled before anyone took part.

Expanded access (not trials)

Expanded access
Not a trial. This treatment can be requested outside a study, case by case, for people who qualify.
Expanded access (paused)
Not a trial. The treatment can normally be requested outside a study, but is unavailable right now.
Expanded access (ended)
Not a trial. The treatment could once be requested outside a study, but no longer can.
Approved
The treatment has been approved, so it is available normally rather than through this programme.

When the status isn't known

Details not published
The full record has not been published yet, so there is little to show here.
Status unknown
This status has not been confirmed recently, so it may be out of date.

First seen Jul 16, 2026 · Last updated Jul 23, 2026 · Updated 3 times

Summary

This study tests whether a gentle, non-invasive brain stimulation technique called transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can improve quality of life, reduce fatigue, and clear brain fog in people with long COVID. Twenty adults with persistent fatigue or cognitive problems will receive 30 sessions of tDCS over the left prefrontal cortex. Researchers will measure changes in thinking, energy, mood, sleep, and brain activity before and after treatment.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance
transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), a non-invasive brain stimulation device that delivers a mild electrical current to the scalp
What this could lead to
If it works, this could point toward a drug-free, at-home treatment for long COVID brain fog and fatigue.
What could go wrong
This is a very small, early feasibility study with only 20 participants and no placebo group, so results may not be conclusive or generalizable.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Phase

Not a phased trial

Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.

Participants

About 20 people

The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.

Expected to start

Sep 2026

An estimate. Start dates often move.

Expected to finish

Mar 2028

An estimate. End dates often move.

Lead sponsor

Other sponsor

The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Ages

18 to 70 years

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Not accepted

This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * Adults aged between 18 and 70 years. * Diagnosis of long COVID according to World Health Organization criteria, defined as symptoms persisting for at least three months after acute SARS-CoV-2 infection and lasting for a minimum of two months without an alternative explanation. * Presence of persistent fatigue and/or cognitive impairment, commonly described as brain fog, attributed to long COVID and confirmed at screening. * Stable clinical condition allowing participation in the intervention and assessment procedures. * Ability to understand the study procedures and provide written informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: * Contraindications to transcranial direct current stimulation, including the presence of implanted electronic devices such as pacemakers or neurostimulators, intracranial metallic implants, or history of epilepsy or seizures. * History of neurological disorders that may affect cognitive function, including stroke, Parkinson's disease, or neurodegenerative disorders. * Pre-existing conditions associated with chronic fatigue or cognitive impairment prior to SARS-CoV-2 infection, such as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, or multiple sclerosis. * Severe psychiatric disorders, including psychosis or severe depression. * Substance abuse, including alcohol or drugs. * Current oncological treatment with chemotherapy or radiotherapy. * Pregnancy. * Any medical condition that, in the opinion of the investigators, may interfere with participation or with the interpretation of the results.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

cognitive disorder Cognitive Dysfunction Fatigue long COVID-19 Mental Fatigue post-COVID-19 disorder

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Cognitive dysfunction Fatigue Long COVID Post-COVID conditions

How to take part

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  1. The official record

    ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.

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  2. A doctor treating you

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