Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) have identified what is believed to be the first intervention found in a randomized controlled trial to show large and very large improvements in multiple symptoms associated with Long COVID….
by News Medical
Summary
- Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) reports on a randomised controlled trial showing large improvements in multiple Long COVID symptoms.
- Study Participants: 16 community residents enrolled and all were at least 3 months post-COVID infection.
- Participants had mild cognitive impairment and difficulties in daily activities.
- Results: Statistically significant and large improvements in daily activity performance and satisfaction.
- Improvements included cognition, daily function, depressive symptoms, and employment.
- Dr. Merzenich is also the Co-Founder and CSO of Posit Science, the company that created the BrainHQ brain training app.
- Dr Shepherd, Honorary Medical Adviser to the ME Association remains sceptical as to both the science supporting its use and benefits that are being claimed in relation to Long Covid.
Extracts
This was a modest-sized study designed primarily to assess feasibility and to help scope follow-on studies. The researchers enrolled 16 community residents, who were three or more months past COVID infection, with mild cognitive impairment and with dysfunction in the performance of instrumental activities of daily living. Participants were randomly assigned to the intervention or to a wait-list control.
The intervention is based on the science of neuroplasticity, which has established that intensive, repetitive, and progressively challenging activities can drive beneficial changes to the brain.
Prior studies of BrainHQ exercises in older adults, and in patients with various health conditions, (cancer, heart failure, multiple sclerosis, schizophrenia, mild cognitive impairment) suggested the kind of improvements seen in this study (in cognition, daily activities, depressive symptoms, stress, fatigue, and employment status). However, the magnitude of the improvements in this study were quite large as compared to some prior studies.
MEA Comment
Please note that we are sharing the results of this small clinical trial into the use of what is called constraint-induced
cognitive therapy for information and not as a recommendation.
It is very difficult to find out what this treatment actually involves and how it is possibly linked to the abnormal illness beliefs and behaviours model of CBT that has now been discredited as far as being used to treat ME/CFS.
CICT appears to be something that has been developed at the US University where this treatment trial was carried out and is claimed to help ‘rewire the brain' in conditions such as traumatic brain injury and multiple sclerosis.
However, there appears to be a lack of sound and replicated scientific evidence to confirm that it can ‘rewire the brain' and successfully treat cognitive dysfunction in conditions such as MS.So I remain sceptical as to both the science supporting its use and benefits that are being claimed in relation to Long Covid.
More information on constraint-induced cognitive therapy (CICT):
Dr Charles Shepherd,
Trustee and Hon. Medical Adviser to the ME Association,
Member of the 2018-2021 NICE guideline on ME/CFS committee,
Member of the 2002 Chief Medical Officer's Working Group on ME/CFS
