非侵襲的磁気療法ヘッドセットを使用したLong COVID患者で認知機能・気分が改善(People With Long COVID Who Used a Noninvasive Magnetic Therapy Headset Show Improved Cognitive Function and Mood)

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2026-09-30 マウントサイナイ医療システム(MSHS)

マウントサイナイの研究チームは、ロングCOVIDに伴う認知機能障害に対する非侵襲的な磁気刺激療法(Microtesla Magnetic Therapy:MMT)を評価した初の無作為化比較試験を実施した。客観的な認知障害が確認された30人を、実治療群と偽治療群に2対1で割り付け、自宅で15分間の治療を週2回、4週間行った。その結果、実治療群では作業記憶、言語学習、情報処理速度、情緒的ウェルビーイングなどで改善がみられ、治療終了後4週間の追跡期間にも一部の改善が続いた。治療は実施可能で安全性・忍容性も確認された。ただし、参加者30人の小規模なパイロット試験であり、長期的な効果や作用機序は未確立。研究者は今後、より大規模な試験で再現性と持続性を検証するとしている。

<関連情報>

長期コロナ患者における認知機能障害に対するマイクロテスラ磁気療法:無作為化パイロット研究 Microtesla magnetic therapy for cognitive impairment in long COVID: a randomized pilot study

Alexandra Canori, PhD, Eric Watson, PhD, Devanshi Patel, MA, Arianna Fiorentino, MSc, Christopher Santiago, BS, David Maltz, MSE, Blake Gurfein, PhD, David Putrino, PhD, Jacqueline Becker, PhD
Brain Communications  Published:28 September 2026
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1093/braincomms/fcag364

非侵襲的磁気療法ヘッドセットを使用したLong COVID患者で認知機能・気分が改善(People With Long COVID Who Used a Noninvasive Magnetic Therapy Headset Show Improved Cognitive Function and Mood)

Abstract

Cognitive impairment is common in post-acute sequelae of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection (long COVID) and substantially affects function and quality of life. Evidence suggests that sustained neuroinflammation, cerebrovascular dysfunction, and mitochondrial impairment contribute to cognitive symptoms. 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.

We evaluated the feasibility (primary) and safety (secondary) of at-home MMT in individuals with objective cognitive impairment from long COVID.

Thirty participants were randomized 2:1 to active or sham MMT and self-administered 15-minute treatments at home twice weekly for 4 weeks, with remote monitoring, using a head-worn device delivering a nonthermal radiofrequency magnetic field to the whole brain. Feasibility was defined as completing at least 80% of prescribed treatments and all study visits. Safety was assessed by adverse events. Cognitive function and self-reported mood and quality of life were exploratory outcomes assessed at baseline, Week 4 (post-treatment), and Week 8 (follow-up).

Feasibility was high: all participants who completed the study adhered to 100% of treatments, and usability ratings were strong. No device-related adverse events occurred. 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). Other measures of attention, processing speed, and executive function did not differ significantly between groups. Emotional well-being on the 36-Item Short Form Survey improved significantly more with active MMT at Week 8 (p = 0.017). Depression and anxiety decreased in both groups; the anxiety reduction was greater with active treatment in the linear mixed-effects model (week × treatment interaction, p = 0.038) but not in the between-group change score comparison (p = 0.057).

At-home MMT was feasible, safe, and well tolerated in individuals with cognitive impairment from long COVID. These preliminary, exploratory findings showed nominally significant between-group differences favoring active treatment on selected cognitive measures and emotional well-being and require confirmation in larger, adequately powered trials.

医療・健康
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