Brain Function Assessment of Acupuncture for Chronic Insomnia Disorder with Mild Cognitive Dysfunction Based on FNIRS: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

Overview

Journal Front Neurol

Specialty Neurology

Date 2024 Dec 5

PMID 39634772

Authors

Tianyu Wang

Zhi Li

Tingting Ma

Fengya Zhu

Bin Yang

Sieun Kim

Runqing Miao

Jie Wu

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Chronic Insomnia Disorder (CID) is highly prevalent among older adults and impairs cognitive function. Insomnia accelerates the progression of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and increases the risk of developing dementia. Acupuncture has been demonstrated in improving sleep quality and cognitive function. This study aims to explore the functional brain characteristics of CID with MCI patients and to assess the effects of acupuncture therapy using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS).

Methods And Design: This study is a single-center randomized controlled trial. Participants will be randomly assigned to the manual acupuncture group or the placebo acupuncture group for an 8-week intervention period. fNIRS data will be collected during resting test and working memory test at baseline and at end of the intervention. The primary outcome is the change of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score, secondary outcomes include the change of Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), and Apathy Evaluation Scale-Informant (AES-I).

Discussion: The results of the study will provide insights into the effects of acupuncture on sleep quality and cognitive performance in CID with MCI patients. By utilizing fNIRS technology, we will elucidate the neural functional characteristic underlying the therapeutic benefits of acupuncture.

Clinical Trial Registration: https://ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier ChiCTR2300076182.

References

Lu C, Chen M, Zou S . [The theoretical basis and acupoint selection of acupuncture treatment for "chemo brain"]. Zhongguo Zhen Jiu. 2019; 38(12):1331-4. DOI: 10.13703/j.0255-2930.2018.12.020. View

Matthews F, Stephan B, McKeith I, Bond J, Brayne C . Two-year progression from mild cognitive impairment to dementia: to what extent do different definitions agree?. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2008; 56(8):1424-33. DOI: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2008.01820.x. View

Fernandes M, Chiaravalloti A, Nuccetelli M, Placidi F, Izzi F, Camedda R . Sleep Dysregulation Is Associated with F-FDG PET and Cerebrospinal Fluid Biomarkers in Alzheimer's Disease. J Alzheimers Dis Rep. 2023; 7(1):845-854. PMC: 10473116. DOI: 10.3233/ADR-220111. View

Bhat A, Staats Pires A, Tan V, Chidambaram S, Guillemin G . Effects of Sleep Deprivation on the Tryptophan Metabolism. Int J Tryptophan Res. 2020; 13:1178646920970902. PMC: 7686593. DOI: 10.1177/1178646920970902. View

Pinti P, Tachtsidis I, Hamilton A, Hirsch J, Aichelburg C, Gilbert S . The present and future use of functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) for cognitive neuroscience. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2018; 1464(1):5-29. PMC: 6367070. DOI: 10.1111/nyas.13948. View

Gao F, Wei S, Dang L, Gao Y, Gao L, Shang S . Sleep disturbance is associated with mild cognitive impairment: a community population-based cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health. 2022; 22(1):2000. PMC: 9624002. DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-14391-3. View

Zhang J, Huang W, Chen Z, Jiang H, Su M, Wang C . Effect of auricular acupuncture on neuroplasticity of stroke patients with motor dysfunction: A fNIRS study. Neurosci Lett. 2023; 812:137398. DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2023.137398. View

Nakamura S, Yomota S, Ito H, Akinaga N, Hori A, Chinomi K . A Novel Cognitive Function Scale Using Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy for Evaluating Cognitive Dysfunction. J Alzheimers Dis. 2021; 81(4):1579-1588. PMC: 8293658. DOI: 10.3233/JAD-210072. View

Roberts R, Knopman D . Classification and epidemiology of MCI. Clin Geriatr Med. 2013; 29(4):753-72. PMC: 3821397. DOI: 10.1016/j.cger.2013.07.003. View

10.

Wang Y, Li T, Ha L, Lv Z, Wang F, Wang Z . Effectiveness and cerebral responses of multi-points acupuncture for primary insomnia: a preliminary randomized clinical trial and fMRI study. BMC Complement Med Ther. 2020; 20(1):254. PMC: 7430003. DOI: 10.1186/s12906-020-02969-6. View

11.

Ayaz H, Baker W, Blaney G, Boas D, Bortfeld H, Brady K . Optical imaging and spectroscopy for the study of the human brain: status report. Neurophotonics. 2022; 9(Suppl 2):S24001. PMC: 9424749. DOI: 10.1117/1.NPh.9.S2.S24001. View

12.

Wong R, Lovier M . Sleep Disturbances and Dementia Risk in Older Adults: Findings From 10 Years of National U.S. Prospective Data. Am J Prev Med. 2023; 64(6):781-787. DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2023.01.008. View

13.

Kim S, Lee S, Kim J, Van den Noort M, Bosch P, Won T . Efficacy of Acupuncture for Insomnia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Am J Chin Med. 2021; 49(5):1135-1150. DOI: 10.1142/S0192415X21500543. View

14.

Bohlken J, Jacob L, Kostev K . Progression of mild cognitive impairment to dementia in German specialist practices. Dementia (London). 2016; 18(1):380-390. DOI: 10.1177/1471301216673919. View

15.

Yin Z, Li Y, Jiang C, Xia M, Chen Z, Zhang X . Acupuncture for mild cognitive impairment: A systematic review with meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis. Front Neurol. 2023; 13:1091125. PMC: 9853885. DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.1091125. View

16.

Chen Y, Wu H, Yin P, Xu J, Huang E, Xu S . [ acupuncture method for mild cognitive impairment: a randomized controlled trial]. Zhongguo Zhen Jiu. 2019; 39(11):1141-5. DOI: 10.13703/j.0255-2930.2019.11.001. View

17.

Feng H, Liu Y, Xu H, Liu Y, Chen G, Liu W . [Effect of acupuncture and estazolam on episodic memory and sleep structure in patients with chronic insomnia disorder: a randomized controlled trial]. Zhongguo Zhen Jiu. 2020; 40(7):707-12. DOI: 10.13703/j.0255-2930.20191208-k0006. View

18.

Fasiello E, Gorgoni M, Scarpelli S, Alfonsi V, Strambi L, De Gennaro L . Functional connectivity changes in insomnia disorder: A systematic review. Sleep Med Rev. 2021; 61:101569. DOI: 10.1016/j.smrv.2021.101569. View

19.

Deng M, Wang X . Acupuncture for amnestic mild cognitive impairment: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Acupunct Med. 2016; 34(5):342-348. DOI: 10.1136/acupmed-2015-010989. View

20.

Huang L, Yin X, Li W, Cao Y, Chen Y, Lao L . Effects of Acupuncture on Vascular Cognitive Impairment with No Dementia: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Alzheimers Dis. 2021; 81(4):1391-1401. PMC: 8293636. DOI: 10.3233/JAD-201353. View