Utilizzo di Glialia per il trattamento delle vertigini posturali percettive persistenti (GLI-PPPD)

Participants in the PPPD-Glialia group must be between the ages of 18 and 65 years and have a confirmed diagnosis of Persistent Perceptual Postural Dizziness (PPPD). They must also either have recovered from a COVID-19 infection or have no history of such an infection. Individuals with concurrent neurological or otological disorders, as well as pregnant women, will be excluded from this group.

Participants in the PPPD-Glialia group will receive the Glialia supplement, which contains 700 mg of Palmitoylethanolamide (umPEA) along with 70 mg of additional supportive ingredients. Each participant will be instructed to take two soluble sachets daily for a total duration of 60 days. This group aims to evaluate the effects of Glialia on PPPD, with outcomes assessed for neuroinflammation, mental clarity, quality of life, balance, and gait quality.

Participants in the PPPD-Glialia group must be between the ages of 18 and 65 years and have a confirmed diagnosis of Persistent Perceptual Postural Dizziness (PPPD). They must also either have recovered from a COVID-19 infection or have no history of such an infection. Individuals with concurrent neurological or otological disorders, as well as pregnant women, will be excluded from this group.

Participants assigned to the PPPD-Placebo group will receive a placebo that is designed to be indistinguishable from the Glialia supplement in terms of appearance and packaging. They will also take two soluble sachets daily for 60 days. The purpose of this group is to serve as a control to evaluate the effects of the Glialia supplement by comparing the outcomes with those of the PPPD-Glialia group. The same assessments for neuroinflammation, mental clarity, quality of life, balance, and gait quality will be performed.

The Control Group will consist of individuals aged between 18 and 65 years who have a previous history of COVID-19 infection, matched for timing with the PPPD-Glialia group. Exclusion criteria for this group will also include the presence of any neurological or otological disorders and pregnancy, ensuring that the results are focused on the impact of the Glialia supplement in the context of PPPD and recovery from COVID-19.

Individuals in the Control Group will receive the same Glialia supplement as the PPPD-Glialia group, containing 700 mg of Palmitoylethanolamide (umPEA) and 70 mg of supportive ingredients. They will also take two soluble sachets daily for 60 days. The primary goal for this group is to assess how the Glialia supplement affects neuroinflammation and related outcomes in individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 but do not have PPPD. This comparison will help clarify the potential effects of Glialia in the context of both PPPD and recovery from COVID-19.

The neuroinflammation assessment will evaluate serum neurofilament light chain (NfL) levels as a biomarker for neuroinflammation in participants with PPPD and controls. Blood samples will be collected via venipuncture at the Foundation Santa Lucia IRCCS. The analysis will utilize a sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method to quantify NfL levels. The Simoa NF-Light advantage kit will enable accurate detection of low concentrations. This assessment aims to compare neuroinflammation levels at baseline (T0) and after treatment (T1) across the study groups.

Gait quality will be assessed using inertial sensors. Set of magneto-inertial sensors (Opal, APDM Inc., Portland, Oregon, USA) will be used during the execution of walking motor tasks. Changes of continuous accelerometer signals will be recorded.

The Video Head Impulse Test (vHIT) is performed to assess the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR). Conducted before T0, this test ensures that participants do not have underlying VOR dysfunction prior to inclusion in the study.

The Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) measures the impact of dizziness on an individual's daily life and activities. Participants will complete this questionnaire at T0 and T1 to assess any changes in disability related to dizziness. The DHI provides insights into the physical, emotional, and functional limitations experienced by patients, facilitating a comprehensive evaluation of the treatment's effectiveness in improving quality of life. The maximum score for the DHI ranges from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater instability.

The Niigata questionnaire assesses subjective symptoms related to PPPD. It is administered to participants at both T0 and T1 to evaluate changes in symptom perception over the treatment period. The questionnaire consists of various items that help quantify the intensity and frequency of PPPD symptoms, allowing for a comparative analysis of symptom improvement in the PPPD-glialia and PPPD-placebo groups. The maximum score is 72, with higher scores reflecting greater instability. Each of its three domains (upright posture/walking, movement, and visual stimulation) has a maximum score of 24.

The Brain Fog Scale (BFS) is designed to evaluate cognitive clarity and mental processing in participants. Administered at both T0 and T1, this scale focuses on self-reported cognitive difficulties, such as concentration, memory, and mental fatigue. Changes in BFS scores will help determine the cognitive effects of the treatment, particularly in the context of PPPD-related cognitive symptoms.

The NEO-P-I-3 questionnaire will be administered at T0 to evaluate personality traits, particularly focusing on neuroticism, which is relevant for understanding the psychological aspects of PPPD. This assessment will provide baseline data on individual personality profiles and allow for exploration of potential correlations between personality traits and treatment outcomes in PPPD patients. A statistical analysis will be conducted to evaluate specific areas of personality traits.