Attention, Memory and Quality of Life in Post-COVID-19 Adults

Summary

The pandemic has highlighted social, economic, educational, and political issues that have affected the health and quality of life of millions of Brazilians. Currently, attention and memory impairment remains predominant among the cognitive symptoms of Coronavirus observed in adults. The persistance of the reffered impairment after 12 weeks of COVID-19 is known as cognitive impairment in post-COVID-19 syndrome. Despite studies indicating the negative effects of COVID-19 on attention and memory, there is a gap in the literature regarding its effects on self-reflection and insight. Previous studies highlight the role of self-awareness as an essential cognitive process that aids the criation of a resolution for the social consequences of the ongoing pandemic. Thus, understanding the relationship between self-reflection, insight, memory, and quality of life in adults that presented COVID-19 could reveal how memory loss might affect the ability to evaluate and understand one's own behaviors and quality of life. Moreover, this study could provide a background for future interventions to enhance attention, memory, self-reflection, and insight in this population. In this context, quantitative electroencephalogram neurofeedback training (EEGq-NFT) is a promising non-invasive intervention designed to improve cognition, such as attention and working memory. By modifying electrophysiological patterns in the cerebral cortex. Considering the information presented, the question is what is the relationship between cognitive failures, self-reflection and insight, and quality of life in adults who had COVID-19, and what is the efficacy of EEGq-NFT training in rehabilitating attention and working memory in adults with cognitive impairment due to post-COVID-19 syndrome. This study aims to examine the relationship between cognitive failures, self-reflection, insight, and quality of life in adults post-COVID-19, as well as to assess the efficacy of EEGq-NFT in improving attention and working memory in adults with cognitive impairment due to post-COVID-19 syndrome. Method 1 will employ a survey with cross-sectional design and quantitative data analysis. A total of 385 adults will be recruted. Data will be collected through online forms. Cognitive Failures Questionnaire, Self-Reflection and Insight Scale and WHOQOL-bref scale will be used. In Method 2, a quasi-experimental with quantitative data analysis will be employed. A total of 60 participants will be randomly assigned to an EEGq neurofeedback training group (n = 20), an active control group called SHAM EEGq-neurofeedback (n = 20), and a waiting list control group (n = 20). The theta/beta ratio reduction protocol at Cz will be used, with 10 sessions of 30 minutes each. The Psychological Battery of Attention 2 (BPA-2) and Digit Span Test will be employed to measure attention and working memory levels. Statistical analyses will be performed using IBM SPSS version 25 with statistical significance set at p \< 0.05 for a 95% confidence interval. The research follows all ethical standards for studies involving human subjects and was submitted for review and approval at the Research Ethics Committee. A understanding of memory levels, self-reflection, insight, and quality of life in adults post- COVID-19 is expected as a result of the present study. Additionally, this study expects that EEGq-NFT will be effective in reducing the theta/beta ratio, as well as improving attention and working memory in adults with cognitive impairment in post-COVID-19 syndrome.

Conditions

• Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome
• Long COVID
• Brain Fog

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

qEEG-neurofeedback

The participants will be submitted to a qEEG-neurofeedback intervention in order to verifify its feasibility to enhance cognition. The theta/beta ratio reduction protocol at electrodes Fp1, Fp2, Fz, F3, F4, Cz, C3, C4 will be performed, with 10 sessions of qEEG-neurofeedback training, 2 sessions for pre and post test, and 1 session for follow-up after 30 days of intervention. Each session will last approximately 1 hour. The Psychological Battery of Attention 2 (BPA-2) and Digit Span Test will be employed to measure attention and working memory levels. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (Moca) will be used for neurological and cognitive assessment. Participants will receive feedback based on their theta/beta ratio in the frontal and central cortical areas (electrodes Fp1, Fp2, Fz, F3, F4, Cz, C3, C4).

BEHAVIORAL

SHAM qEEG-neurofeedback

The participant will be submitted to an inactive qEEG-neurofeedback that appears to be the same as a functional procedure or device. Participants will not receive feedback based on their theta/beta ratio in the frontal and central cortical areas (electrodes Fp1, Fp2, Fz, F3, F4, Cz, C3, C4).

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Santos Dumont Institute

  collaborator OTHER

• Jade Carvalho Da Silva

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

TRIPLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

60 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-06-10

Primary Completion

2025-10-31

Completion

2025-12-31

Countries

• Brazil

Study Locations