Overview
A multicenter randomized controlled trial is evaluating transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) as a treatment for the persistent fatigue and cognitive dysfunction — commonly called 'brain fog' — that affects an estimated 65 million people worldwide with long COVID.
Rationale
Long COVID fatigue and brain fog are increasingly understood as neuroinflammatory conditions. The vagus nerve is the primary regulator of the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway, and stimulating it may help normalize the dysregulated immune response that drives persistent symptoms.
Study Design
The trial enrolls 200 participants with confirmed long COVID experiencing significant fatigue (measured by Chalder Fatigue Scale) and cognitive dysfunction (measured by MoCA) for at least 3 months. Participants receive either active taVNS or sham stimulation for 12 weeks using a take-home device.
Significance
With no FDA-approved treatments specifically for long COVID fatigue, this trial addresses a massive unmet clinical need. If successful, taVNS could offer a safe, non-pharmacological option that patients can administer at home.
