BRAIN TRAINING PROGRAMS: BRAIN HQ

What are brain training programs like BrainHQ?

BrainHQ is an interactive online program that offers a variety of exercises to help train the brain to improve cognitive tasks such as memory, attention, and speed.¹ Tasks adapt to a level of difficulty that is optimal for the user. Each level takes less than five minutes to complete. BrainHQ has 29 online exercises for attention, brain speed, memory, people skills, navigation, and intelligence. Users can customize their exercises to their needs and schedule. BrainHQ is available as a free online resource at various libraries in the US.

How can brain training programs like BrainHQ help alleviate certain long COVID symptoms?

Cognitive symptoms of long COVID include brain fog (trouble thinking clearly or remembering) and difficulty focusing on tasks. The SARS-CoV-2 virus can directly infect the central nervous system and damage brain tissue, which is hypothesized to lead to cognitive impairment. In addition, the virus possesses a spike protein that studies have associated with memory loss after COVID.² This spike protein can activate neuroinflammation and ultimately lead to memory impairment.

Brain training programs like BrainHQ are intended to promote brain plasticity, which rewires the brain to make physical changes that improve learning. BrainHQ exercises can increase the activation of brain regions for specific cognitive functions and build neural connections over time.³

What evidence supports using brain training programs like BrainHQ for long COVID?

Studies using BrainHQ exercises and assessments have found benefits such as faster visual and auditory processing, better memory, faster neural timing, fewer dangerous driving moves, and better mood. BrainHQ has been used in hundreds of published studies for a wide range of conditions such as ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, bipolar, dementia, depression, diabetes, heart failure, MS, Parkinson’s, schizophrenia, and more.⁴ For instance, BrainHQ has been studied in breast cancer survivors and showed improvements in immediate and delayed memory and speed of processing.⁵

The RECOVER-NEURO trial is actively recruiting to investigate BrainHQ as a possible treatment to improve memory, attention, and brain processing speed for long COVID patients. It is also being studied with an online goal management training program or transcranial direct current stimulation to increase activity in specific brain parts.⁶

In summary, BrainHQ is an extensively studied brain training program that has shown benefits in cognitive function. Ongoing research will help to determine its effectiveness for long COVID patients.

References:

1)      Brain Training That Works. BrainHQ. 2023. Accessed November 8, 2023. https://www.brainhq.com/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=brand&utm_content=46467711%2B327060831330&utm_term=brainhq&gad=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAgK2qBhCHARIsAGACuznJ-tHxC4VThBFhINIfiVtv6u6_fD8D7r0ROAIYzFvqR12JHHWXlVoaAumfEALw_wcB&v4=true&fr=y

2)      Li Z, Zhang Z, Zhang Z, Wang Z, Li H. Cognitive impairment after long COVID-19: current evidence and perspectives. Front Neurol. 2023 Jul 31;14:1239182. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1239182

3)      The Proven Benefits of BrainHQ. BrainHQ. 2023. Accessed November 8, 2023. https://www.brainhq.com/world-class-science/the-proven-benefits-of-brainhq/ 

4)      Hundreds of Published Studies. BrainHQ. 2023. Accessed November 8, 2023. https://www.brainhq.com/world-class-science/information-researchers/

5)      Evidence-Based Cancer Control Programs (EBCCP). National Cancer Institute. March 29, 2023. Accessed November 8, 2023. https://ebccp.cancercontrol.cancer.gov/programDetails.do?programId=27852796

6)      RECOVER-NEURO Clinical Trial. RECOVER: Researching COVID to Enhance Recovery. 2023. Accessed November 8, 2023. https://trials.recovercovid.org/neuro

Active Clinical Trials: Long COVID, brain training | Card Results | ClinicalTrials.gov