NCT07355751Not yet recruiting
The Effect of Acupuncture Treatment on Cognitive Functions and Brain Networks for Long COVID
The Effect of Acupuncture Treatment on Cognitive Functions and Brain Networks for Long COVID: a Multimodal Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Last updated 21 Jan 2026
Brief summary (registry, in English)
Background of study: Long COVID(LC) is a prevalent sequalae of SARS-CoV-2 infection and can affect multiple organ systems. Cognitive dysfunction is one of the most common symptoms in LC with 22% prevalence. It can persist for years and significantly reduce patients' quality of life. Brain network is the neural basis underlying human cognitive processes. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and functional magnetic resonance imaging(fMRI) research has revealed that alterations of network characteristics were associated with cognitive impairments across attention, memory, executive function and language in LC. Currently, there is no accepted therapy for cognitive impairment in LC. Acupuncture, as a Traditional Chinese Medicine therapy, has potential to improve cognitive deficits for LC. However, research focusing on the impact of acupuncture on cognitive functions in LC is rare. Additionally, no one has evaluated the mechanism of acupuncture improving cognitive functions in LC. Objective of the study: This study aims to assess the effect of acupuncture treatment on cognitive function and explore the central mechanism of acupuncture therapy in improving cognitive function for LC using cognitive assessments, DTI and resting-state fMRI. Study design: A prospective, three-armed, randomized controlled trial with DTI and rs-fMRI. Adults with LC will be randomly assigned to acupuncture, sham acupuncture, or waitlist control group in a 1:1:1 ratio, receiving 8-week intervention or waiting. Cognitive function and topological attributes of brain networks will be examined at baseline and 8th week. Study population: Patients fulfilling World Health Organization (WHO) criteria for LC will be included in this study.
- Status (registry)
- Not yet recruiting
- Study type
- Interventional
- Enrollment
- 108 (estimated)
- First submitted
- 2 Jan 2026
- Start date
- 1 May 2026
- Primary completion date
- 31 Dec 2027
- Lead sponsor
- Tingting Luo
- Diseases
- Long COVID and ME/CFS
- NCT number
- NCT07355751
What you commit to
- Study type: Interventional
- Planned participants: 108
- From 1 May 2026 to the primary completion date, 31 Dec 2027
- 1 site in 1 country
- Visits and tests: ask the trial team, the registry does not list them
Built from the registry fields of ClinicalTrials.gov. It describes the study, not your situation.
Who cannot take part
Copied verbatim from ClinicalTrials.gov and grouped by topic. Only the trial team decides who can take part.
Prior treatment
- Previous or current diagnosis of chronic conditions that may affect cognitive performances (such as neurological, psychiatric disorders, organ failure, chronic infectious diseases)
- Prior loss of consciousness
- Long-term use of drugs that may influence cognition(such as tranquilizer, antidepressant, immunosuppressor)
- Previous acupuncture treatment within 3 months
Other illness
- Preexisting cognitive symptoms before COVID-19
- History of major surgery within a year
- Sensory disorders(deafness, color blindness)
Other
- Involvement of other clinical study within 4 weeks
- Obesity(BMI≥28)
- Limb dysfunction
- Metal implantation
- Claustrophobia
- Pregnancy or lactation
Who the study is looking for
- Age 18-60 years
- Fulfilling WHO criteria for long COVID
- History of confirmed COVID-19 through RT-PCR of nasopharyngeal swab or antigen test of nasal swab ;
- Having subjective cognitive problems
- Native Chinese speakers
- Right handedness
- Voluntary to participate in the study and signing the informed consent form.
Age in the registry: 18 years to 60 years · Sex: All · Accepts healthy volunteers
Sites (1)
Sites in registry order. Pick your city on the disease page to sort them by distance.
| Site | City | Country | Site status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status | Chengdu | China | Unknown status |
Related publications
- Acupuncture for cognitive functions in post-COVID-19 condition: study protocol of a three-armed, randomized controlled trial with multimodal MRI.Front Med (Lausanne) · 2026 · PMID 42136829
This page is information, not medical advice. Discuss any trial with your doctor.