Can magnetic brain stimulation lift Long-COVID brain fog?
NCT ID NCT06586398
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jul 07, 2026 · Updated 2 times
Summary
This small pilot study tests whether repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) can ease fatigue, brain fog, and other neuropsychiatric symptoms in people with Long-COVID. Ten participants will first receive either active or sham rTMS for 15 sessions, then all will get active treatment for another 15 sessions. The goal is to check safety and gather early data on symptom changes.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a non-drug treatment for fatigue and brain fog in Long-COVID.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very small pilot study with only 10 participants, so results may not apply widely. It is too early to know if rTMS truly helps.
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
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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
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10 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Jan 2025
- Finished
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Mar 2026
- Lead sponsor
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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
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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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 Hide 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: 1. 18+ years of age 2. Prior hx of PCR confirmed COVID-19 infection. Determined by the PI or participant's physician. 3. Subsequent development of post-acute neuropsychiatric symptoms with fatigue and brain fog as primary outcomes 4. USE of Psychotropic medications 5. Stable on psychotropic medications for 4+ months 6. Confirmed diagnosis of Long COVID 7. Subjects are willing and able to adhere to the treatment schedule and required study visits Exclusion Criteria: 1. Mentally or legally incapacitated or unable to give informed consent 2. MOCA \< or = 24 3. Infection of poor skin condition over the scalp where the rTMS device will be positioned 4. Pregnancy: Female participants will be tested for pregnancy at baseline and agree to use a medically acceptable form of birth control throughout the study, for women younger than 60. 5. Lifetime history of diagnosed bipolar disorder; psychosis, such as schizophrenia, schizophreniform, or schizoaffective disorder; intellectual disability (intellectual developmental disorder); organic brain damage; or suicide attempts in the past 24 months. 6. Severe MDD with suicidality of Psychosis- excluded 7. As-needed use of benzodiazepines and beta-blockers will be permitted but discouraged during assessment days. 8. Current abuse or dependence on alcohol or any illicit drug of abuse (disorder in last 6 months). Any recent use of cocaine or opiates will also be exclusionary. 9. Participants with asthma or with a history of serious, uncontrolled medical illness or instability (including significant cardio-pulmonary disease, organic brain including significant cardio-pulmonary syndrome, pre-existing dementia, seizure disorder, cerebrovascular disease, and diabetes) 10. Taking medications known to lower seizure thresholds (Clozaril/ Wellbutrin) 11. Neurological conditions that include epilepsy, cerebrovascular disease, dementia, increased intracranial pressure, having a history of repetitive or severe head trauma, or primary or secondary tumors in the central nervous system. 12. Presence of an implanted metallic and magnetic-sensitive medical device present in the body scan, including but not limited to a cochlear implant, infusion pump, implanted cardioverter defibrillator, pacemaker, vagus nerve stimulator, aneurysm clip, metal prosthesis, or metal aneurysm clips or coils, staples, or stents.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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UCLA Semel Institute
Los Angeles, California, 90095, United States
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