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Study of Chemosensory Enhancement Through Neuromodulation Training (SCENT for Long COVID)
Sponsor: Medical University of South Carolina
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.
Official title: A Randomized Controlled Trial of Smell Training and Trigeminal Nerve Stimulation in the Treatment of COVID-related Persistent Smell Loss
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
18 Years - 65 Years
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
145
Start Date
2023-10-02
Completion Date
2028-05-31
Last Updated
2026-04-02
Healthy Volunteers
No
Interventions
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.
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.
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.
Locations (1)
Medical University of South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina, United States