ME/CFS Brain Fog: Cognitive Rehabilitation Trial

Study Summary

The purpose of this study is to compare two approaches to cognitive rehabilitation in adults with post-viral cognitive syndrome, which resulted in brain fog. All participants will be screened for eligibility prior to participation. Most of the procedures will take place over a phone call or secure telehealth platform (i.e., Zoom). However, participants will be asked to visit UAB on three occasions for blood sample collection and brain imaging (about 2 hours each). Online testing will happen one month before treatment, one day before treatment, one day afterwards, and 6 months afterwards. The study will utilize two different forms of rehabilitation training to improve participants' cognitive ability. Participants will be randomized to one of the two treatment groups. The first treatment approach, known as Constraint-Induced Cognitive Therapy (CICT), will feature (A) web-based computer "games" that trains how quickly individuals process information that they receive through their senses; (B) online training on everyday activities with important cognitive components, (C) procedures designed to transfer improvements in cognition from the treatment setting to everyday life, and (D) a non-invasive form of vagus nerve stimulation, also known as trans-auricular VNS (taVNS). The second approach, known as Brain Fitness Training (BFT), will include (A) web-based computer "games" that train reaction time and eye-hand coordination; (B) in-lab training on relaxation, breathing, healthy nutrition, and healthy sleep, (C) education about how relaxation, breathing, nutrition, and sleep are connected to thinking effectiveness, and (D) taVNS. Approximately 30 hours of training will be conducted over a secure telehealth platform (i.e., Zoom) in the span of two- to four- weeks. A typical CICT session will consist of one hour of gaming, with the bulk of the session being spent on cognitive training of the target behaviors and procedures designed to promote transfer of therapeutic gains to

Primary Outcome

The COPM is a standard, validated, trans-diagnostic, patient-centered structured interview commonly used to measure the real-world outcome of rehabilitation procedures that span both motor and cognitive functions after stroke. The Performance Scale assesses how well a participant performs five activities in their daily life, i.e., outside the lab, that are important to the participant. Activities, for this purpose, will be restricted to those with an important cognitive component ,i.e., IADL. Th

Interventions

• BEHAVIORAL Processing Speed Training
• BEHAVIORAL Transfer Package
• BEHAVIORAL Follow Up Phone Calls
• BEHAVIORAL In-session Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Training
• PROCEDURE Trans-auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation: High Intensity