Abstract
There is a critical need for therapeutic interventions for Post-Acute Sequelae (PASC) of SARS-CoV-2 infection patients worldwide. tDCS has the potential for therapeutic targeting of these PASC symptoms, with devices that can be portable and wearable for home-based access. At-home tDCS access is highly relevant to complete the necessary clinical trials for PASC and has the potential to provide patients with an immediate treatment option. We have led the field in rigorous, reliable, and standardized home-based brain stimulation with the development of the remotely supervised or RS-tDCS platform. Participants are provided with remotely-controlled devices, trained in safe and effective operation, and then supervised for daily use through live videoconference. Extensively tested over >8 years (>12,000 at-home tDCS sessions in >500 patients to date), the feasibility of our RS-tDCS procedures has been verified for use across all ages (18-80 years), including those with advanced cognitive or motor disabilities and/or limited technical experience, and also reaching those at socioeconomic healthcare disadvantage for inclusion in RCTs. The RS-tDCS platform has allowed for the continued enrollment in ongoing RCTs during the COVID-19 onsite clinical research pause (with >100 participants by completing all study procedures from home). The telehealth delivery of the intervention results in rapid enrollment and high retention and adherence for repeated and extended sessions (e.g., >97% completion rates across RCTs to date). While tDCS remains under investigational status in the U.S., in 2019, we also launched tDCS as a clinical telehealth service as innovative care. In this at-home service, tDCS is delivered to patients at home and stimulation parameters can be individualized to be paired with interventions such as physical exercise, online adaptive computerized cognitive training, and guided mindfulness meditation. Patients with PASC, seen through our tDCS program, will be presented as examples of the at-home tDCS treatment approach.
Research Category and Technology and Methods
Clinical Research: 9. Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)
Keywords: tDCS, Telehealth Intervention, PASC, SARS-CoV-2
OS07.4
Footnotes
Abstract key: PL- Plenary talks; S- Regular symposia oral; FS- Fast-Track symposia oral; OS- On-demand symposia oral; P- Posters