PhD Scientific Days 2025

Mental Health Sciences II.

Cognitive Improvement through Acupuncture: A Pilot Study on Post-COVID Fatigue

Name of the presenter

Bognár Judit

Institute/workplace of the presenter

Institute of Behavioural Sciences

Authors

Judit Bognár^1,2, Sophia Benz-Sahnoun², Anna-Sophie Eitzer², Judith Brenner², Cornelia Wachter², Beate Wild²

1: Institute of Behavioural Sciences, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
2: Department of General Internal Medicine and Psychosomatics, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany

Text of the abstract

Introduction: Post-COVID-19 Condition, commonly known as long COVID, is defined as the continuation or development of new symptoms 3 months after the initial SARS-CoV-2 infection, lasting for at least 2 months with no other explanation (WHO). One of the central symptoms is concentration and memory problems, often referred to as brain fog, that have psychiatric consequences (depression, sleeping problems, etc.) and significantly reduce quality of life. However, still very little is known about therapy options.
Aims: Our study aims to examine the effects of acupuncture therapy regarding post-COVID syndrome, especially post-COVID cognitive impairment.
Method: During the randomized, controlled pilot trial (RCT), namely the ACUPOCO study, post-COVID patients are randomly assigned to one of two groups: intervention and waiting control group. Comprehensive diagnostic assessments are carried out before treatment (T0), after intervention (acupuncture) or waiting period (T1), and 3 months later (T2). It includes interviews, concentration and memory tests, questionnaires, heart rate variability measurements, and blood tests. The intervention arm receives 10 sessions of half-standardized acupuncture based on Traditional Chinese Medicine, while the control group awaits. In this presentation, the results of concentration and memory tests (d2R and digit span test) are reported.
Results: N=57 patients were randomised (N=29 acupuncture group, N=28 control group). The average age was 45,6 ±12,88 years and 75% of the sample were women. At T0, the acupuncture group had 90.28 ±8,45 standard points in concentration performance (CP), Accuracy (E%) 97,14±16 standard points, in the digit span test forwards (DSF) 7,31 ±2,14, backwards (DSB) 6,52±2,1 points. In the control group CP is 95,07 ±9,98, E%=103,25±17,07 standard points, DSF=7,61±1,77, DSB=6,32±1,77 points. 72% of the acupuncture group reported sleep maintenance insomnia, while 75% of the controls have also had problems with it. T1 is still ongoing. Results will be reported at the congress.
Conclusion: Acupuncture can be a low-dose, safe, and effective way of helping post-COVID patients with brain fog. Further studies are required with more participants, also to examine the long-term effects of acupuncture on post-COVID syndrome.
Funding: SE250+ Excellence PhD Scholarschip, Jellinek Harry Grant, DÄGfA