This proposal aims to understand the neurobiological mechanisms of fatigue in individualswith Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Infection (PASC). This knowledge will eventuallyprovide candidate mechanisms to target with pharmacological intervention and informrehabilitative care for those individuals suffering from symptoms of fatigue in PASC.
Not Provided
Behavioral: Physical Fatigue
Participants will perform a physically demanding task (grip force exertion task)
repeatedly to induce physical fatigue.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Age 18 to 75 years old.
- Have received a clinical diagnosis of post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC)/long
COVID syndrome using the criteria specified by Thaweethai, et al., 2023 (JAMA). This
symptom checklist provides a score based on the number and severity of symptoms. An
individual with a score >12 is classified as having PASC.
- Currently experiencing Fatigue/Brain Fog as assessed with the Post-COVID symptom
checklist and the PedsQL questionnaire.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Neurological disorders including, but not limited to, stroke, head injury, epilepsy,
seizures, brain tumors, brain surgery, Parkinson's Disease, or any other
neuromuscular disease (self-report).
- Diagnosed history of severe psychiatric diseases such as depression and
schizophrenia (self-report).
- Congestive heart failure.
- Peripheral artery disease with claudication.
- Cancer.
- Pulmonary or renal failure.
- Unstable angina.
- Uncontrolled hypertension (more than 190/110 mmHg).
- Severe aphasia.
- Orthopedic or pain conditions.
- Have had exposure to metal or metal implants, due to the hazardous effects of the
magnetic field.
- If on immunomodulatory therapy, they must have been on that therapy for at least 6
months before the start of the study.
Healthy age- and sex-matched controls for PASC - Exclusion criteria: Participants with a
history of any of the following will be excluded from the study:
- Hospitalization due to SARS-CoV-2 infection.
- Neurological disorders including, but not limited to, stroke, head injury, epilepsy,
seizures, brain tumors, brain surgery, Parkinson's Disease, or any other
neuromuscular disease (self-report).
- Diagnosed history of severe psychiatric diseases such as depression and
schizophrenia (self-report).
- Congestive heart failure.
- Peripheral artery disease with claudication.
Kennedy Krieger Institute
Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Investigator: Anthony Gonzalez
Contact: 443-923-2716
gonzalezan@kennedykrieger.org
Anthony Gonzalez
443-923-2716
gonzalezan@kennedykrieger.org
Vikram Chib, PhD
Vikram Chib, PhD, Principal Investigator
Johns Hopkins University; Kennedy Krieger Institute