New scan seeks to uncover hidden brain inflammation in long COVID sufferers

NCT ID NCT06920628

First seen Nov 01, 2025 · Last updated Jun 23, 2026 · Updated 40 times

Summary

This study is testing whether a radioactive tracer called 11C-PS13 can detect brain inflammation in people who have long-term neurological symptoms after COVID-19. Researchers will compare PET scans from 60 adults (both healthy volunteers and those with long COVID) to see if the tracer highlights areas of inflammation. The goal is to better understand the biology behind brain fog, headaches, and other post-COVID brain issues.

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This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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Contacts and locations

Study contacts

  • Contact

    Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

  • Contact

    Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

Locations

  • National Institutes of Health Clinical Center

    RECRUITING

    Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, United States

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

What this could mean

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

Active substance

11C-PS13 (a radioactive tracer injected before a PET scan)

What this could lead to

If successful, this could help identify a biological marker for brain inflammation in long COVID, pointing toward new ways to diagnose or treat these symptoms.

What could go wrong

This is a very early Phase 1 study with only 60 participants. It is designed to measure inflammation, not to test a treatment, so it may not lead directly to any therapy.

Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Inflammation long COVID-19

As listed by the trial registrant

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