AzTrials
AzTrials

ME/CFSNCT07523113

ME/CFS Brain Fog: Cognitive Rehabilitation Trial

A study testing Processing Speed Training, In-session Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Training and Transfer Package in people with ME/CFS and ME/CFS Following EBV-associated Infectious Mononucleosis, run by University of Alabama at Birmingham at 1 site in United States.

Recruiting

Looking for participants now. Contact the study team or a site below to ask about taking part.

Sites and contacts
Official record
Search all trials

Trial 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. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
What is being tested?
Processing Speed Training, In-session Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Training and Transfer Package
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
30 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
23 Jun 2026to Jun 2028
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • diagnosis of ME/CFS that preceded cognitive complaints
  • mild or greater cognitive impairment
  • moderate or greater brain fog
  • some impairment in the performance of daily activities
  • ≥ 18 years, no upper limit if medically stable
  • reside in the community (as opposed to a hospital or skilled nursing facility)
Show all 13Show fewer
  • able to travel to the laboratory on multiple occasions
  • has Internet service
  • has a personal computer, laptop, or tablet that can access the Internet
  • sufficiently fit, from both a physical and mental health perspective, to take part in the study
  • adequate sight and hearing to complete the UFOV test
  • adequate thinking skills, e.g., ability to follow directions and retain information to complete UFOV and CTAL, as marked by the judgement of the screener that the candidate is able to adequately complete the UFOV and CTAL
  • sufficient English proficiency (i.e., ability to speak, understand, read, and write to take part in study activities)

Who cannot join

  • cognitive impairment due to a developmental disability, psychiatric disorder, or substance abuse, or due to another type of brain injury, such as traumatic brain injury, stroke, or a progressive brain disease, such as Alzheimer's Dementia
  • current substance abuse disorder
  • diagnosis of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) by a healthcare provider
  • prior cognitive processing speed training on DoubleDecision or a similar program
  • cannot tolerate taVNS
  • prior history of heart attack or other serious cardiac events
Show all 14Show fewer
  • implanted medical device of any type
  • vasovagal syncope or history of fainting
  • history of seizures or epilepsy
  • temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) syndrome or other conditions that cause substantial jaw pain
  • history of peripheral nerve injury to the head, neck, or face
  • pregnant or breastfeeding
  • not able or willing to get an MRI scan
  • not able or willing to get a blood draw

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

Madeline Rathz, BS contact

205-934-9768

mgrathz@uab.edu

Helen Bliss, BS contact

205-934-0433

hmbliss@uab.edu

United States1 site, 1 recruiting
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham

    Birmingham, Alabama, 35294

    Madeline Rathz, BS, 205-934-9768, mgrathz@uab.edu

    Helen Bliss, BS, 205-934-0433, hmbliss@uab.edu

    Recruiting

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: Brain Training for Chronic, Post-viral, Brain Fog: Study A

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 daily life. ta-VNS will be administered for 10 minutes before gaming and in-lab target behavior training. A typical BFT session will consist of one hour of gaming, training on healthy lifestyle behaviors (i.e., healthy sleep, nutrition, and relaxation habits), as well as procedures designed to promote transfer of behavior changes to daily life. Ta-VNS will be administered for 10 minutes before gaming and in-lab target behavior training. Training sessions in both conditions will be scheduled based on participants' availability, with the options for sessions scheduled to be as close as every weekday over 2 weeks or as loosely as every other weekday (i.e., over a 4-week span). If a caregiver is available, they will receive training on how to best support participants in their therapeutic program. After the training ends, both groups will receive 4 follow-up phone calls approximately one week apart to promote integration of the gained skills into everyday life. Outcomes measured will include cognitive processing speed, cognitive function on laboratory tests, and spontaneous performance of everyday activities with important cognitive components in daily life.

Being tested
Processing Speed Training, In-session Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Training, Transfer Package, Follow Up Phone Calls, Trans-auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation: High Intensity
Keywords
ME/CFS, Chronic Fatigue, Brain fog, Cognitive Impairment, Cognitive Dysfunction, post-viral syndrome, Cognitive Rehabilitation, CICT
Medical subject headings
Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic, Mental Fatigue, Cognitive Dysfunction

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Processing Speed TrainingBehavioural

    Also called SOPT

    Speed of processing training involves trainer-guided practice of computer-based video "games." The games require the "player" to rapidly distinguish targets from decoys, which trains the player to process information from their senses quickly.

  • In-session Instrumental Activities of Daily Living TrainingBehavioural

    Also called IADL Training

    Participants will receive shaping on IADLs. Participants will receive training on everyday tasks with important cognitive components, in which the difficulty is increased in small steps over the course of treatment.

  • Transfer PackageBehavioural

    Also called TP

    The Transfer Package was designed to try to bridge the gap between what is trained in-session and what the participant does outside of treatment sessions. These components include negotiation of a behavioral contract with participants at the outset of treatment regarding the responsibilities of the participant, family caregivers, if available, and the treatment team, self-monitoring, assignment of "homework," review of homework by the trainer, and support of problem-solving by the participant.

  • Follow Up Phone CallsBehavioural

    After completing training, participants will receive four weekly follow-up phone calls in the first month of training. The focus of the calls will incorporate the lessons learnt during treatment into daily life.

  • Trans-auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation: High IntensityProcedure or surgery

    Also called taVNS

    The vagus nerve runs from the brain to the external ear, throat, chest, and abdomen and controls, among other functions, the rest and relax response, which supports learning and turns down inflammatory processes. The rest-and-relax response can be activated by electrically stimulating the vagus nerve. We will place electrodes on the external part of each ear and safely apply a microcurrent of at least 4 milliamps. Stimulation will be administered for 10 minutes near the start and midway point of each treatment session.

  • In-session Brain Health TrainingBehavioural

    Participants will receive training on healthy eating, sleeping, and relaxation techniques that have been shown to improve brain health.

  • Reaction Time TrainingBehavioural

    Reaction time training involves trainer-guided practice of computer-based video "games." Several different games will be featured that train how rapidly "players" react to "threats" and train eye-hand coordination.

  • Trans-auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation: Low IntensityProcedure or surgery

    The vagus nerve run from the brain to the external ear, throat, chest, and abdomen and controls, among other functions, the rest and relax response, which supports learning and turns down inflammatory processes. The rest and relax response can be turned on by electrically stimulating the vagus nerve. We will place electrodes on the external part of each ear and safely apply a microcurrent of less than 4 milliamps. Stimulation will administered for 10 minutes near the start and midway point of each treatment session.

Study groups in NCT07523113
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
CICT + taVNSExperimentalConstraint-Induced Cognitive Therapy uses in-lab training on everyday activities with important cognitive components, along with the procedures designed to transfer improvements from the treatment setting to everyday life. This will be combined with computer-based processing speed training and non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation.
Receives: Behavioral: Processing Speed Training; Behavioral: In-session Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Training; Behavioral: Transfer Package; Behavioral: Follow Up Phone Calls; Procedure: Trans-auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation: High Intensity
BFT + taVNSActive comparatorBrain Fitness Training involves in-lab training on relaxation, healthy nutrition, and healthy sleep with procedures designed to promote integration of these lifestyles into everyday life. This will be combined with computer-based reaction time training and non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation.
Receives: Behavioral: Transfer Package; Behavioral: Follow Up Phone Calls; Behavioral: In-session Brain Health Training; Behavioral: Reaction Time Training; Procedure: Trans-auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation: Low Intensity

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM)

    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. The 10-point response scale ranges from 1 (not able to do the activity at all) to 10 (able to do the activity extremely well). Performance Scale scores from the participant will be the primary outcome.

    Measured: Change from Day 30 to Day 60 (i.e., change from Pre- to Post-treatment)

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted13 Apr 2026
  2. Study start23 Jun 2026
  3. Primary completionJun 2027 (estimated)
  4. Study completionJun 2028 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Single blind
Who is masked
Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
30 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT07523113
Sponsor's protocol ID
IRB-300015629
Other IDs
UAB CAS
Status last verified
Oct 2026
First submitted
4 Apr 2026
Last updated
29 Oct 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Processing Speed Training, In-session Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Training and Transfer Package in people with ME/CFS and ME/CFS Following EBV-associated Infectious Mononucleosis, run by University of Alabama at Birmingham at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 13 inclusion and 14 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 29 Oct 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

Contact Madeline Rathz, BS (205-934-9768, mgrathz@uab.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) (time frame: Change from Day 30 to Day 60 (i.e., change from Pre- to Post-treatment)). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 29 Oct 2026.

Free account

Log in to keep searching

You’ve used your 3 free searches. AzTrials is free: log in or create a free account to keep searching clinical trials and save the ones you want to follow.

Create a free accountLog in