Study of Chemosensory Enhancement Through Neuromodulation Training (SCENT for Long COVID)

Summary

Persistent smell loss that can include diminished or distorted smell function is a common symptom of long COVID syndrome. There are limited treatment options for long COVID-related smell loss. This study aims to determine the efficacy of two at-home treatments, smell training and non-invasive trigeminal nerve stimulation. This study requires participants to conduct daily at-home treatment sessions, attend three in-person study visits at the MUSC Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and complete electronic questionnaires over the 12-week trial, and again at the six-month timepoint. Participants in this trial may benefit directly with an improvement in sense of smell. However, participation may also help society more generally, as this study will provide new information about long COVID-related smell loss and its treatment.

Conditions

• Smell Dysfunction
• Olfactory Disorder
• Long COVID

Interventions

DEVICE

Trigeminal Nerve Stimulation (TNS)

Non-invasive, pain-free, low-level electrical stimulation to the forehead to modulate the trigeminal nerve and enhance smell function through activation of the highly connected olfactory-intranasal trigeminal brain circuits.

OTHER

Active Smell Training (ST)

Sniffing various higher intensity odorant chemicals while performing odor-related cognitive tasks. 16 odorant chemicals will be used for training including: 2 phenyl ethanol, eugenol, lemon, eucalyptus, cinnamon, peppermint, coffee, mandarin, lavender, vanilla, lilac, ginger, chocolate, thyme, banana, and bacon.

OTHER

Placebo Smell Training (PBO)

Sniffing the same lower intensity odorant chemicals (i.e. N-butanol and 2-phenyl ethanol) over the course of the trial and performing no odor-related cognitive tasks.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Institutes of Health (NIH)

  collaborator NIH

• National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)

  collaborator NIH

• Medical University of South Carolina

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

65 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2023-10-02

Primary Completion

2028-05-31

Completion

2028-05-31

Countries

• United States

Study Locations