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Water-based Activity for Long COVID-19 Neurological Symptoms

This study is looking at whether a program combining water-based exercise and brain training (called WATER+CT) can help Veterans with ongoing brain-related symptoms from Long COVID-19. You might be able to join if you are a Veteran aged 18-89, had COVID-19 at least 6 months ago, and have had persistent neurological symptoms like "brain fog" for at least 8 weeks. The study wants to see if this program is practical and safe, and if the methods used can effectively measure improvements. Half of the 50 participants will receive WATER+CT, and the other half will receive educational materials and regular contact with study staff (Usual Care). The study's status is currently unclear.

Study design
This is a single-blind randomized controlled pilot trial involving 50 Veterans. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the WATER+CT program or Usual Care.
What's involved
If you are in the WATER+CT group, you will participate in 6 months of thrice-weekly pool-based exercise, followed by ten sessions of cognitive training over 2 months. The total intervention lasts 8 months.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
The primary measure of feasibility will be taken at the end of study completion, which is an average of 8 months.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT06142253

Water-based Activity to Enhance Recovery in Long COVID-19

Recruiting
NAAges 18–89InterventionalTreatment
VA Office of Research and Development
~50 participants
Updated 2026-06-18 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:WATER+CTUsual Care

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Feasibility of Intervention Measure
Measured over At the end of study completion, an average of 8 months

Conditions

Long COVID

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NCT06142253

Where you'd take part

This study runs at 1 site. They're the same protocol — you choose where, and that choice sets who your contact draft is addressed to.

  • VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA

    Palo Alto, Californiastudy coordinator listed

    Recruiting

Sites open and close at different times, so the status above is per site — it can differ from the study's overall status.

Study leadership

  • Jennifer Kaci Fairchild, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA

Who to contact

Jennifer K Fairchild, PhD
[email protected]
(650) 439-5000 · ext. 63432
Email the study team

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Veterans, age 18 to 89, of any racial or ethnic group
Previous COVID-19 infection at least 6 months after diagnosis documented in clinical record
Persistent neurological symptoms (e.g., "brain fog", cognitive impairment) occurring within 3 months of onset of COVID-19 infection and lasting at least 8 weeks in duration
Visual and auditory acuity to allow neuropsychological testing
Willingness to participate in clinical trial for 8 months
Approval by Primary Care Provider to participate in water-based physical exercise

Exclusion

Current, uncontrolled severe psychotic disorder determined by the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) Medical Exclusions
History of neurological (e.g., multiple sclerosis, seizure disorder, stroke,) neurodegenerative (e.g., Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease) or system illness affecting CNS function (e.g., liver failure, kidney failure, congestive heart failure, systemic cancer) occurring before COVID-19 diagnosis
Current severe cardiac disease (e.g., uncontrolled atrial fibrillation, defined as mean 24 hour heart rate \>85 beats/min, or 24 hour maximal ventricular rate \>150 beats/min; uncontrolled ventricular arrhythmias, defined as recurrent ventricular tachycardia \>3 beats in succession, or 24 hour PVC count \>20%; active pericarditis or myocarditis; Class III/IV heart failure and / or ejection fraction \< 20%; thrombophlebitis; pulmonary disease with a drop in O2 Sat with exercise to 90% without oxygen; embolism within past 6 months)
Inability to participate in an exercise stress test
Inability to read, verbalize understanding and voluntarily sign the Informed Consent

What this trial measures

  • Feasibility of Intervention MeasureAt the end of study completion, an average of 8 months

    The FIM is a brief measure of the feasibility of an intervention.