Author: Mengyuan Wu#1, Hong Liu#1, Jia Huang1,2, Weilin Liu2,3, Zhizhen Liu2,4, Ying Xu5,3
Affiliation: <sup>1</sup> Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, China.
<sup>2</sup> Key Laboratory of Orthopedics & Traumatology of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ministry of Education, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, China.
<sup>3</sup> National-Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Rehabilitation Medicine Technology, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, China.
<sup>4</sup> Science and Technology Branch, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, China.
<sup>5</sup> Key Laboratory of Orthopedics & Traumatology of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ministry of Education, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, China aaa8858@qq.com.
Conference/Journal: BMJ Open
Date published: 2023 Nov 21
Other:
Volume ID: 13 , Issue ID: 11 , Pages: e076196 , Special Notes: doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-076196. , Word Count: 198
Introduction:
Interventions at the mild cognitive impairment (MCI) stage prevent or delay the progression of cognitive decline. In recent years, several studies have shown that physical exercise combined with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) effectively delays the disease and promotes cognitive recovery in patients with MCI. This study aims to determine whether Tai Chi (TC) combined with tDCS can significantly improve memory in patients with MCI compared with TC or tDCS alone.
Methods and analysis:
This clinical trial will use a 2×2 factorial design, enrolling 128 community-dwelling MCI patients, randomly categorised into four groups: TC, tDCS, TC combined with tDCS and the health education group. Outcome measures will include the Chinese Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised, Auditory Verbal Learning Test and Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test. All assessments will be conducted at baseline and 3 months after the intervention. All analyses will use intention-to-treat or per-protocol methods.
Ethics and dissemination:
Ethics approval was obtained from the Ethics Committee of the Affiliated Rehabilitation Hospital of the Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (2022KY-002-01). The results of the study will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and at scientific conferences.
Trial registration number:
ChiCTR2200059316.
Keywords: dementia; electric stimulation therapy; geriatric medicine; neurology.
PMID: 37989387 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-076196