Acupuncture for Poststroke Cognitive Impairment Based on Default Mode Network Analysis: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND

Poststroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) is a prevalent and disabling complication following stroke, affecting critical functions such as memory, attention, language, and executive abilities. Despite the growing clinical burden, standardized and effective treatment strategies for PSCI remain limited. Acupuncture, a key modality in traditional Chinese medicine, has shown promise in improving cognitive outcomes among survivors of stroke. However, the neural mechanisms underlying its efficacy are not well understood. The default mode network (DMN), a brain network implicated in cognition and memory, has been shown to exhibit altered functional and structural connectivity in patients with PSCI. Investigating whether acupuncture modulates DMN activity may provide critical insights into its therapeutic potential.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture in improving cognitive function in patients with PSCI and explore its potential neurobiological mechanisms, particularly those involving changes in the DMN, using multimodal neuroimaging techniques.

METHODS

We will conduct a single-blind, randomized controlled trial involving 54 eligible patients with PSCI who will be randomly assigned to either an acupuncture group or a sham acupuncture control group. Both groups will receive conventional rehabilitation therapies. The intervention group will undergo standardized scalp acupuncture targeting Baihui (GV20), Shenting (GV24), and Sishencong (EX-HN1) for 8 weeks. The control group will receive sham acupuncture at nonacupoint locations using placebo needles. Cognitive function will be assessed at baseline and 4 and 8 weeks using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment and Mini-Mental State Examination. Secondary outcomes include activities of daily living, quality of life, and neuroimaging data acquired through resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging and diffusion tensor imaging.

RESULTS

This study is currently in the recruitment phase. All results, including clinical and imaging data, will be reported upon trial completion and publication.

CONCLUSIONS

This protocol is designed to investigate the efficacy of acupuncture and its underlying mechanisms in treating PSCI, with a particular focus on functional brain networks. By integrating clinical cognitive assessments and neuroimaging analysis of DMN connectivity, this study seeks to establish objective correlates of cognitive improvement. Findings from this research may advance the understanding of how acupuncture modulates large-scale brain networks and contribute to the development of imaging-based biomarkers for treatment evaluation. If successful, this approach could support the inclusion of acupuncture as a personalized nonpharmacological strategy in the neurorehabilitation of cognitive deficits following stroke.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): PRR1-10.2196/74981.