A pilot randomized trial in Brain Communications tested Microtesla Magnetic Therapy, a head-worn device that applies a weak, non-thermal radiofrequency magnetic field to the whole brain, in people with cognitive impairment from long COVID. Thirty participants were assigned two-to-one to active or sham treatment and gave themselves 15-minute sessions at home twice a week for four weeks. The aim was to show the approach was feasible and safe.
On those terms it succeeded, with full adherence among those who finished and no device-related adverse events. The active group improved more than the sham group on three cognitive tests by Week 8, but none of the apparent efficacy differences remained significant after correction for the many outcomes tested. The authors call the findings preliminary and in need of confirmation in larger trials.
Quotes
"Microtesla Magnetic Therapy (MMT) is a transcranial, low-amplitude radiofrequency magnetic field intervention that has shown anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects in preclinical models, suggesting potential value in long COVID and other neurological disorders."
"This is the first randomized controlled trial of MMT for long COVID cognitive impairment."
"Thirty participants were randomized 2:1 to active or sham MMT and self-administered 15-min treatments at home twice weekly for 4 weeks, with remote monitoring, using a head-worn device delivering a non-thermal radiofrequency magnetic field to the whole brain."
"Compared with sham, active MMT participants showed significantly greater improvement from baseline to Week 8 in Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale Digit Span Sequencing (P = 0.026), Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised Total Recall (P = 0.044) and Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System Color Naming (P = 0.049)."
"These preliminary, exploratory findings showed nominally significant between-group differences favouring active treatment on selected cognitive measures and emotional well-being and require confirmation in larger, adequately powered trials."
Location
📍 United States
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Microtesla magnetic therapy for cognitive impairment in long COVID: a randomized pilot study
Canori A, Watson E, Patel D, Fiorentino A, Santiago C, Maltz D (2026) Brain Communications Journal Level 1ⓘ
