N/A
Completed N=236
Combining Acupuncture and Acupressure for Dementia Elderly
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04305951 ↗Enrolled (actual)
236
Serious AEs
7.2%
Results posted
Feb 2026
Primary outcomePrimary: Changes in the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Score — 0.14; 0.70; 1.06; 0.44 score
Summary
This is an assessor-blinded, randomized controlled trial. A total of 248 (anticipated) elderly people aged ≥65 years with a mild to moderate dementia will be recruited from local nursing and care homes. They will be randomly assigned to routine care, CAT, CAE, and CAT+CAE with n = 62 subjects in each group. Subjects assigned to CAT, CAE, and CAT+CAE will respectively receive 2 sessions of CAT, 3 sessions of CAE, and a combination of both per week for 12 weeks. The primary outcome is the baseline-to-endpoint change in score of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Secondary outcomes include various domains of MoCA, functional independence, psychological well-being, sleep quality, and level of pain. A generalized linear mixed-effect model will be used to compare outcomes over time among the four groups.
Outcome Measures
| Outcome | Result | p-value |
|---|---|---|
| PRIMARY Changes in the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Score |
0.14; 0.70; 1.06; 0.44; -0.25; 0.60 | — |
| SECONDARY Change in the Digit Span Forward |
0.04; -0.15; 0.01; 0.37; -1.59; -0.61 | — |
| SECONDARY Change in the Digit Span Reverse |
-0.04; -0.43; 0.10; 0.15; -0.23; 0.02 | — |
| SECONDARY Changes in the Modified Bathel Index Score |
0.82; 1.97; 0.94; 0.68; -0.93; 3.11 | — |
| SECONDARY Changes in the Visual Analogue Scale Score |
0.11; -0.43; 0.01; -0.57; -0.18; -0.23 | — |
| SECONDARY Changes in the Geriatric Depression Scale Score |
-0.49; -0.67; -1.23; -0.62; -1.47; -0.39 | — |
| SECONDARY Changes in the Insomnia Severity Index Score |
-0.12; -0.45; -0.38; -0.50; -0.67; -1.26 | — |
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- have a clinical diagnosis of any type of dementia or met the criteria of major and mild neurocognitive disorder based on the Fifth Edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), and
- have mild to moderate dementia at a stage of 3-5 on the Global Deterioration Scale (GDS).
Exclusion Criteria
- have of dementia with the stage below 3 or above 5 on the GDS;
- have severe skin lesions on acupuncture and acupressure areas;
- have significant bleeding tendency;
- have heart pacemaker or implantable cardioverter defibrillator;
- are currently receiving acupressure as a regular therapy;
- had a surgery on the head or neck;
- are currently receiving anti-coagulant treatment.
Data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04305951). Outcome figures and adverse-event rates are extracted automatically from the registry's posted results and are provided for clinician reference, not as a substitute for the primary publication. Informational only — not medical advice.