Brain stimulation alleviates long Covid fatigue: New study shows promising therapeutic approach
In a recent study, a research team from the University Medical Centre Magdeburg was able to show that four consecutive sessions of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can lead to a significant reduction in cognitive fatigue in long-COVID patients.
The results of the randomised-controlled, double-blind study were published in the renowned journal Brain Stimulation. The study was conducted at the Institute of Medical Psychology at Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg under the direction of Prof Dr Tino Zähle and M.Sc. Magdalena Mischke, research assistant.
Effect of the stimulation
The study investigated whether - can alleviate fatigue in long-COVID pattDCS - a method in which weak electrical currents specifically modulate brain activityients. The results showed that both real (verum) and placebo (sham) stimulation achieved a significant reduction in subjectively perceived fatigue. Just four consecutive applications led to an improvement in symptoms that lasted up to one month after treatment.
Photo: Magdalena Mischke with a test subject during an EEG measurement. Photographer: Sarah Kossmann/UMMD
Long-term neurophysiological changes
Interestingly, tDCS stimulation provided further findings: After stimulation, significant differences in brain activity associated with fatigue were measured between the groups - even one month after the last application.
Potential for future treatment approaches
The applied transcranial direct current stimulation targets frontal brain regions that are responsible for the development of cognitive fatigue. The results suggest that this method is a safe, low side-effect and potentially effective option for alleviating cognitive fatigue in long-COVID patients. Although this work provides an important basis for future therapy developments, much research is still needed before clinical application.
The study emphasises the urgent need to develop effective treatment options for long-COVID patients, as chronic fatigue often leads to considerable restrictions in everyday life and there are currently only a few therapies available.
The study was funded by the Corona Special Fund of the State of Saxony-Anhalt (funding code M19/CSV 5).
Scientific Contact
Prof. Dr. Tino Zähle
Member of the management team at the Institute of Medical Psychology at the Medical Faculty of Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Phone: +49 391 67-21816
M.Sc. Magdalena Mischke
Research assistant at the Institute of Medical Psychology at the Medical Faculty of Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Phone: +49 391 67-21807
magdalena.mischke@med.ovgu.de