Clinical Study Of Acupuncture Combined Computer-assisted Cognitive Training To Improve Cognitive Function In Stroke Patients

Objective:To systematic compare the clinical effectiveness of basic treatment, acupuncture treatment, computer-assisted cognitive training, and to explore the synergistic effect of the combined treatment program (acupuncture & cognitive training) on post-stroke cognitive dysfunction. To objective and comprehensive evaluate the real effect of acupuncture combined computer-assisted cognitive training on post-stroke cognitive dysfunction by Event Related Potential (P300) and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) to provide reliable evidence to form a more efficacy cognitive rehabilitation therapy program on post-stroke cognitive dysfunctionMethods:We propose a randomized controlled trial with 2×2 factorial design in which the two interventions (acupuncture and RehaCom training) are to be delivered to four groups defined by the presence or absence of each intervention, with one arm without both interventions as a control group. Included 111 qualified patients with cognitive dysfunction after stroke were randomly divided into 4 groups. Acupuncture group (27):accept acupuncture treatment, Cognitive training group (28):accept computer-assisted cognitive training (using RehaCom system), Combined group (28):accept acupuncture combined with computer-assisted cognitive training, Blank control group (28):received only basic treatment. All patients accept basic treatment (conventional medical treatment and rehabilitation).1 times/day,45 minutes/day,5 days/week for 12 weeks. Before and after the training all patients are evaluated the cognitive function by MMSE and P300 (amplitude and latency).Results:Before and after treatment, MMSE score, P300 (amplitude, latency) on stroke patients in the acupuncture group, cognitive training group and the combined group showed a significant statistically improve by compare the results within each group (P<0.01), while the difference was not that statistically significant the control group (P<0.05). (2) After treatment,by group comparison among groups showed that the MMSE scores, P300 (amplitude, latency) improvement in each group was significantly different (P<0.01) in all groups, further analyze showed the efficacy of intervention groups was significantly higher than the control group (P<0.01), and synergistic effect of the two treatments higher than the acupuncture or cognitive training used alone (P<0.01), but the difference efficacy of acupuncture treatment and cognitive training was not statistically significant (P> 0.05). (3) The factorial analysis showed that both acupuncture therapy and cognitive training by RehaCom had strong main effect for improving cognitive function in stroke patients, and the synergistic effect was also significantly (P<0.01).Conclusions:1.Acupuncture combined with computer-assisted cognitive training and computer assisted cognitive training or acupuncture treatment seperatly used can improve cognitive function in stroke patients with cognitive dysfunction.2. The interaction between computer-assisted cognitive training and acupuncture treatment on cognitive improvement in stroke patients does exist.and it can significantly improve cognitive function than the treatment seperatly used in stroke patients with cognitive dysfunction.