Brain Stimulation in Long COVID
MALIBU
Mitigating Cognitive Problems and Fatigue With Brain Stimulation in Long COVID
2 other identifiers
interventional
66
1 country
1
Brief Summary
Cognitive problems and severe fatigue are two frequently occurring symptoms in long COVID, also known as Post-Covid Condition or Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC), and their causes are currently unknown. Previous studies have shown reduced blood flow and increased inflammation in the brains of people with PASC. These brain processes are related to fatigue and cognitive problems. In other conditions, these disrupted brain processes have been treated safely and successfully with non-invasive brain stimulation. This may offer an effective treatment for people with PASC. The main goal of this clinical trial is to see whether non-invasive brain stimulation called repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) can reduce fatigue in adults with PASC who also have trouble concentrating. rTMS uses short magnetic pulses on the scalp to gently stimulate a small brain area. In this study, 66 adults with PASC will be included, recruited through the Post-COVID Network Netherlands. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either active rTMS or sham (placebo) rTMS. Sham rTMS feels and looks similar to the active treatment, but it does not generate effective magnetic pulses. The brain area that will be targeted is personalized using a brain scan (MRI) during a planning task. All participants will receive 24 rTMS sessions over six weeks (four per week). Fatigue will be measured within two weeks before and two weeks after treatment to determine whether active rTMS works better than sham. We will also look at cognition, brain connectivity and blood flow, signs of (neuro)inflammation, daily activity using an activity watch, and questionnaires about quality of life, mood, and sleep. Follow-up on cognition and questionnaires will take place 3 and 6 months after the end of the treatment.
Trial Health
Trial Health Score
Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach
participants targeted
Target at P50-P75 for not_applicable
Started Nov 2025
Longer than P75 for not_applicable
1 active site
Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.
Trial Relationships
Click on a node to explore related trials.
Study Timeline
Key milestones and dates
Study Start
First participant enrolled
November 17, 2025
CompletedFirst Submitted
Initial submission to the registry
November 19, 2025
CompletedFirst Posted
Study publicly available on registry
December 11, 2025
CompletedPrimary Completion
Last participant's last visit for primary outcome
November 17, 2028
ExpectedStudy Completion
Last participant's last visit for all outcomes
May 12, 2029
December 19, 2025
December 1, 2025
3 years
November 19, 2025
December 18, 2025
Conditions
Keywords
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcomes (1)
Fatigue
Fatigue as measured by the 8-item fatigue subscale of the Checklist Individual Strength (CIS). The subscale is scored on a 7-point Likert scale, adding up to a total score between 8 and 56. A score of 35 or higher indicates the presence of severe fatigue.
Fatigue will be measured within two weeks before and within two weeks after treatment, and at 3 and 6 months follow-up.
Secondary Outcomes (30)
Objective cognitive functioning
Objective cognitive functioning will be measured two weeks before and two weeks after treatment and at 3 and 6 months follow-up after treatment.
Arterial Spin Labeling (ASL)
Neuroimaging will be performed within two weeks before and within two weeks after treatment.
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS)
Neuroimaging will be performed within two weeks before and within two weeks after treatment.
Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)
Neuroimaging will be performed within two weeks before and within two weeks after treatment.
Actigraphy
Continuous period of eight days two weeks before and directly after treatment
- +25 more secondary outcomes
Other Outcomes (1)
Heart rate variability (HRV)
Four nights and four mornings two weeks before and directly after treatment
Study Arms (2)
Active rTMS
EXPERIMENTALThe active intervention will consist of high-frequency rTMS delivered to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). Stimulation will be administered at 10 Hz frequency, 110% of the individual's resting motor threshold and then adjusted for the individual cortex-skull distance, with 3,000 pulses per session with a total duration of 30 minutes (60 trains of 5 seconds, 25-second inter-train intervals).
Sham rTMS
SHAM COMPARATORSham-stimulation will be administered at 60% motor threshold at the same location (left DLPFC) using a placebo coil, which is identical to the stimulation coil in appearance, but with a built-in metal plate that blocks most of the active stimulation while maintaining mechanical scalp sensation.
Interventions
The active intervention will consist of high-frequency (10 Hz) TMS delivered to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), at 110% of the individual's resting motor threshold, adjusted for the individual cortex-skull distance, with 3,000 pulses per session with a total duration of 30 minutes (60 trains of 5 seconds, 25-second inter-train intervals). Sham-stimulation will be administered at 60% motor threshold at the same location (left DLPFC) using a placebo coil, which is identical to the stimulation coil in appearance, but with a built-in metal plate that blocks most of the active stimulation while maintaining mechanical scalp sensation. The stimulation target will be individualized using functional MRI data acquired during a Tower of London planning task allowing neuronavigation to the site of task-related activation. Each participant will receive four sessions per week for six weeks, totaling 24 sessions.
Sham-stimulation will be administered at 60% motor threshold at the left DLPFC using a placebo coil, which is identical to the stimulation coil in appearance, but with a built-in metal plate that blocks most of the active stimulation while maintaining mechanical scalp sensation. 3,000 pulses per session will be applied with a total duration of 30 minutes (60 trains of 5 seconds, 25-second inter-train intervals). The stimulation target will be individualized using functional MRI data acquired during a Tower of London planning task, allowing neuronavigation to the site of task-related activation. Each participant will receive four sessions per week for six weeks, totaling 24 sessions.
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if:
- Meet the World Health Organization (WHO) definition of long COVID.
- Aged 18 years or older.
- Severe fatigue, defined as a score ≥35 on the Checklist Individual Strength (CIS) fatigue subscale.
- Significant cognitive complaints, defined as a score ≥18 on the CIS concentration subscale.
- Commitment to actively undergo rTMS
- Ability to attend the study site regularly for treatment sessions.
- Capacity to provide written informed consent.
You may not qualify if:
- Prior rTMS treatment or current intensive/experimental treatment for long COVID.
- History of epilepsy or first-degree family history of epilepsy.
- Recent initiation or dosage change of psychotropic medication (less than six weeks for psychotropic medication including antidepressants and antipsychotic drugs, less than two weeks for benzodiazepines). Medication doses must remain stable during the study.
- Other active concurrent pharmacological treatments for post-covid symptoms
- Contraindications to MRI scanning (e.g., non-removable metallic implants, severe claustrophobia).
- Presence of a cochlear implant.
- Neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis or other neurodegenerative conditions.
- Pregnancy.
- Known brain lesions or ischaemic scars influencing seizure threshold.
- Severe uncontrolled migraines.
- Severe cardiovascular disease
- Raised intracranial pressure.
- High alcohol consumption (males/females: 21/14 units per week) or use of epileptogenic drugs.
- Severe sleep deprivation at the time of treatment.
Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.
Sponsors & Collaborators
Study Sites (1)
Amsterdam UMC
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Related Publications (30)
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PMID: 29923005BACKGROUND
Related Links
MeSH Terms
Conditions
Interventions
Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Study Officials
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Sander C.J. Verfaillie, Dr.
Amsterdam UMC, GGZ InGeest
- STUDY CHAIR
Odile A van den Heuvel, Prof. Dr.
Amsterdam UMC
- STUDY CHAIR
Ysbrand D van der Werf, Prof. Dr.
Amsterdam UMC
- STUDY CHAIR
Esmée Verwijk, Dr.
University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC
- STUDY DIRECTOR
Céline N Dietz, MSc/MA
Amsterdam UMC
Central Study Contacts
Study Design
- Study Type
- interventional
- Phase
- not applicable
- Allocation
- RANDOMIZED
- Masking
- TRIPLE
- Who Masked
- PARTICIPANT, INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
- Masking Details
- Participants and the investigators conducting neuropsychological assessment and doing data analysis will remain blinded to treatment allocation. Due to the nature of the intervention, rTMS technicians cannot be blinded. However, they will be asked not to reveal allocation to participants and other researchers.
- Purpose
- TREATMENT
- Intervention Model
- PARALLEL
- Sponsor Type
- OTHER
- Responsible Party
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
- PI Title
- Dr.
Study Record Dates
First Submitted
November 19, 2025
First Posted
December 11, 2025
Study Start
November 17, 2025
Primary Completion (Estimated)
November 17, 2028
Study Completion (Estimated)
May 12, 2029
Last Updated
December 19, 2025
Record last verified: 2025-12
Data Sharing
- IPD Sharing
- Will not share