Cognitive Rehabilitation and Functional Outcomes in Long COVID-Related Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized…

Randomized trialJAMA network open· Jul 2026

Cognitive Rehabilitation and Functional Outcomes in Long COVID-Related Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Martina Vanova, Aysha Mohamed Rafik Patel, Iona Scott … Aida Suarez-Gonzalez

Brain Injury MedicineRandomized trialTreatmentQ1IF 8.1

Cognitive rehabilitation improved goal attainment in long COVID cognitive impairment at 3 months

Cognitive Rehabilitation and Functional Outcomes in Long COVID-Related Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Martina Vanova … Aida Suarez-Gonzalez

JAMA network open · Jul 2026 · Q1 in General Medicine

Background

IMPORTANCE: Cognitive impairment is common in long COVID and severely affects daily life, with no proven treatments to date.

Purpose

To evaluate the ability of cognitive rehabilitation (cognitive rehabilitation) to improve goal attainment, cognitive, and clinical outcomes in individuals with cognitive impairment as part of long COVID.

Methods

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This multicenter, single-blind, 2-arm, parallel-group randomized clinical trial was conducted at 3 sites in England between February 2023 and March 2024.

n = 88 participants

Results

goal attainment improved substantially more with cognitive rehab than usual care

MD 2.88 (95% CI 2.03 to 3.73)

null 0

2.03

3.73

CI excludes the null - significant

More results

This was sustained at 6 months, with a lower effect size (adjusted mean difference, 1.72 [95% CI, 0.86-2.57]; P < .001; Cohen d = 0.91).

“

Conclusion · 1 of 2

In this study, individualized, goal-oriented cognitive rehabilitation led to significant and sustained improvements in goal attainment in people with long COVID-related cognitive impairment.

Conclusion · 2 of 2

These findings may guide and inform the provision of cognitive rehabilitation treatments and services for people living with long COVID.

Cognitive Rehabilitation and Functional Outcomes in Long COVID-Related Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Cognitive Rehabilitation and Functional Outcomes in Long COVID-Related Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Related papers