Efficacy and Olfactory Network of Electro-acupuncture for Subjective Cognitive Decline: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial and fMRI Study

Summary

Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) is the early diagnosis and treatment window period of Alzheimer's disease (AD), and the identification of SCD individuals who will progress to AD (pSCD) is a research hotspot. Based on olfactory fMRI,previous studies have found that SCD individuals showed damaged entorhinal neural circuits. After follow-up, the incidence of pSCD increased by three times. But,the spatiotemporal characteristics of the entorhinal neural circuits and whether it has the value of individualized prediction and intervention target need to be further studied. Thus, based on multi-center ambispective cohort study at home and abroad, we will (1) build a new paradigm of synchronous fMRI-EEG olfactory task state Oddball experiment, jointly representational similarity analysis, extract spatiotemporal characteristics of neural circuits damage, and discover and verify that the entorhinal neural circuits are vulnerable brain regions; (2) establish the middle fusion model of vulnerable brain region combined with the methods of olfactory task-fMRI activation image generation, functional connectome gradient,etc.; Then, establish late fusion multi-omics multi-task model combined with the new methods of molecularomics such as ultra-deep total proteomics and metabonomics proposed by the research group to accurately identify pSCD; (3) carry out the precise intervention of image-guided "olfactory three-needle" acupuncture with the entorhinal neural circuits as the target. Through clinical RCT research and mouse model, the remodeling mechanism of vulnerable brain regions will be clarified.This project will provide the basis for early diagnosis and treatment of the AD risk population.

Conditions

• Subjective Cognitive Decline (SCD)

Interventions

DEVICE

"TXJN" electro-acupuncture

Firstly, EA treatment will be administered at the Neiguan (PC6, bilateral), Shenting(GV23), Yingxiang(LI20, bilateral), Yintang(GV29) acupoints. Disposable stainless-steel needles (0.25 mm × 25 mm; Huatuo brand, Suzhou Medical Supplies Factory Co., LTD., Suzhou City, China) will be used. After skin disinfection, the acupuncturists will twist and thrust the needle handles to achieve the sensations of achiness, heaviness, and numbness (known as de qi) at all above-mentioned acupoints. Following needle manipulations, EA instruments (SDZ-V, Hwato brand, Suzhou Medical Supplies Factory Co., Ltd., Suzhou City, China) will be used to attach the needle handles at PC6, GV23, LI20, GV29, with a dilatational wave of 5 Hz and a current intensity of 2 \~ 4 mA depending on the patient's tolerance. The needles will be removed after 30 min. Participants will receive 24 sessions over 8 weeks at a frequency of 3 times per week.

DEVICE

sham acupuncture

Firstly, EA treatment will be administered at the non-acupoints near above-mentioned real acupoints. Disposable stainless-steel needles (0.25 mm × 25 mm; Huatuo brand, Suzhou Medical Supplies Factory Co., LTD., Suzhou City, China) will be used. After skin disinfection, the acupuncturists will take the needle into the acupoints without the sensations of de qi. Following needle manipulations, EA instruments (SDZ-V, Hwato brand, Suzhou Medical Supplies Factory Co., Ltd., Suzhou City, China) will be used to attach the needle handles at non-acupoints without the current. The needles will be removed after 30 min. Participants will receive 24 sessions over 8 weeks at a frequency of 3 times per week.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• The Affiliated Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

TRIPLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

55 Years

Max Age

79 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2024-04-06

Primary Completion

2026-04-30

Completion

2028-12-31

Countries

• China

Study Locations