Effect of acupuncture treatment on Vascular Cognitive Impairment, No Dementia

ISRCTN ISRCTN82980206
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN82980206
Secondary identifying numbers z131107002213034
Submission date
13/11/2013
Registration date
17/01/2014
Last edited
06/03/2019
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Mental and Behavioural Disorders
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
Cerebrovascular disease (conditions that are a result of problems with the blood vessels in the brain) and ischemic brain injury caused by heart disease are common causes of dementia and decline in cognitive (mental) function in the elderly. Reduced mental function without dementia (vascular cognitive impairment, no dementia [VCIND]) comprises a range of cognitive disorders related to cerebral vessel disease. A study on the progression of cognitive and functional impairment showed that 2% of VCIND patients died and 46% developed dementia. Unlike many other cognitive disorders, VCIND could be prevented or the course of cognitive decline could be improved. However, apart from controlling vascular risk factors, the effects of drug treatment on patients with VCIND are uncertain. Acupuncture is widely used for patients with neuropsychiatric disorders but there is a lack of information about its effectiveness. The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment of VCIND patients.

Who can participate?
Male and female patients aged 50-85 diagnosed with VCIND.

What does the study involve?
Participants will be randomly allocated to receive either acupuncture or a drug. The acupuncture group will receive two acupuncture sessions per week for 3 months. The drug group will be treated with oral citicoline three times per day for 3 months.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
The results of this study may contribute to the future improvement of patient care. Participants may benefit from improved functional status and quality of life. The risks of taking part are minimal. Citicoline has been recommended in some European countries with a reliable safety profile. Acupuncture is a relatively safe treatment when given by properly trained clinicians. Occasionally acupuncture could make people feel nauseous or faint during or after treatment. Participants are warned of potential side effects before consenting to have the drug or acupuncture.

Where is the study run from?
This study will be carried out at four different centers in China: Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing Chinese Medicine Hospital in Huairou District, the Beijing Fengtai Hospital of Integrative Medicine, and Dongzhimen Hospital Affiliated to Beijing University of Chinese Medicine.

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
The study started in July 2013 will be recruiting patients until December 2015. The study is expected to complete in October 2016.

Who is funding the study?
Beijing Municipal Science & Technology Commission (China).

Who is the main contact?
Dr Liu Cun-Zhi
lcz623780@126.com

Contact information

Dr Liu Cun-Zhi
Scientific

Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine affiliated to Capital Medical University
23 Meishuguanhou Street
Dongcheng District
Beijing
100010
China

Email lcz623780@126.com

Study information

Study designMulti-center randomized controlled trial
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)Hospital
Study typeTreatment
Participant information sheet Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet
Scientific titleEffect of acupuncture treatment on Vascular Cognitive Impairment, No Dementia: a multi-center, randomized, controlled trial
Study acronymVCIND
Study objectivesTo investigate the effect of acupuncture on vascular cognitive impairment no dementia (VCIND).
Ethics approval(s)Ethics Committee of the Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine affiliated to Capital Medical University, 22/03/2013, ref: 201317
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedVascular cognitive impairment not dementia(VCIND)
InterventionAll participants will be randomized to two different groups:
1. Acupuncture group: this group of patients will receive two acupuncture sessions per week for 3 months.
2. Drug group: this group of patients will receive oral citicoline 0.1g per time, 3 times per day for 3 months.
Intervention typeMixed
Primary outcome measureThe cognitive section of the Alzheimer Disease Assessment Scale (ADAS-Cog) will be assessed at baseline, the end of treatment and 3 months after the end of treatment.
Secondary outcome measures1. Clock drawing test (CDT) will be assessed at baseline, the end of treatment and 3 months after the end of treatment.
2. Ability of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living scale (IADL) will be assessed at baseline, the end of treatment and 3 months after the end of treatment.

Participants will report adverse events they experience, including discomfort or bruising at the sites of needle insertion, nausea, or feeling faint after each acupuncture treatment. Adverse drug reactions like nausea and vomiting, dizziness, dry mouth and itching will also be recorded.
Overall study start date01/07/2013
Completion date30/10/2016

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupSenior
SexBoth
Target number of participants216
Key inclusion criteria1. Aged 55-85 years, either sex
2. Hachinski score ≥7
3. Evidence of vascular lesions on neuroradiology
4. Fluency in language sufficient to reliably complete all study assessments
5. Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score >dementia threshold corrected based on educational year (>17 scores, >20 scores and >24 scores for 0, ≤6, and>6 educational years, respectively)
6. Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) <26 scores for >12 educational years (or <25 scores for≤12 educational years)
7. Written and informed consent
Key exclusion criteria1. History of mental diseases (e.g., schizophrenia, serious anxiety and depression)
2. Patients with Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, frontotemporal dementia or Huntington's disease
3. Patients with epilepsy and/or ever having antiepileptic drugs
4. Presence of serious heart diseases, kidney diseases or liver diseases
Date of first enrolment01/07/2013
Date of final enrolment01/12/2015

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • China

Study participating centre

Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine affiliated to Capital Medical University
Beijing
100010
China

Sponsor information

Beijing Municipal Science & Technology Commission (China)
Government

No. 7, Building 2
Evergreen Road
Haidian District
Beijing
100010
China

Phone +86 (0)10 66153395 
Email xmgl_2010@163.com
Website http://www.bjkw.gov.cn/n8785584/index.html
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/034k14f91

Funders

Funder type

Government

Beijing Municipal Science & Technology Commission (China)

No information available

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareYes
IPD sharing plan summaryAvailable on request
Publication and dissemination planNot provided at time of registration
IPD sharing planThe datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are/will be available upon request from Cun-Zhi Liu (lcz623780@126.com). The data will become available from the publication of the article to a year later. All subjects' data will be shared including with all participants, as electronic documents, and by e-mail.

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Protocol article protocol 13/11/2014 Yes No
Results article results 01/04/2019 18/02/2019 Yes No

Editorial Notes

06/03/2019: IPD sharing statement added.
18/02/2019: Publication reference added.