Electro-acupuncture for SCD With Depression

Efficacy and Amygdala-entorhinal Circuit of Electroacupuncture Intervention in SCD With Depression: A Randomized Controlled Trial

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of electroacupuncture in treating adults with subjective cognitive decline accompanied by depression. The main objectives are to answer the following questions:

1. Can electroacupuncture improve cognitive function and depressive symptoms in individuals with subjective cognitive decline accompanied by depression?
2. Does electroacupuncture alleviate subjective cognitive decline with depression by modulating the amygdala-entorhinal circuit, and if so, what is the specific mechanism involved? Researchers will compare real electroacupuncture therapy with sham electroacupuncture therapy to determine whether real electroacupuncture can effectively improve symptoms in patients with subjective cognitive decline accompanied by depression. Additionally, multimodal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology will be used to assess changes in the amygdala-entorhinal circuit following electroacupuncture intervention.

Participants will:

1. Receive either real or sham electroacupuncture treatment once daily, 3-5 times per week, for a total treatment duration of 8 weeks.
2. Undergo cognitive function and depression assessments before and after treatment.
3. Complete multimodal cranial magnetic resonance imaging examinations before and after treatment.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 60-80 years, right-handed
• Meets the diagnostic criteria for Subjective Cognitive Decline (SCD)
• Geriatric Depression Scale-15 (GDS-15) score ≥5
• Clear consciousness, cooperative during examination, with adequate auditory comprehension
• Patient and family agree to complete assessments and have provided informed consent with signed documentation

Exclusion Criteria:

• Received other anti-dementia or antidepressant therapy within the past 2 weeks, or currently participating in other clinical trials
• Experienced acute cerebral infarction, cerebral hemorrhage, or transient ischemic symptoms within the past 6 months, or presence of localized old encephalomalacia foci
• History of positive neuropsychiatric disorders and major trauma, including dementia, depression, epilepsy, etc.
• Suffering from other severe comorbidities (aphasia, diabetic ketoacidosis, hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state, diabetic lower limb vascular disease, moderate to severe edema of lower limbs, lower limb venous thrombosis, arteriosclerosis obliterans of lower limbs, peripheral neuropathy, spinal cord lesions, traumatic brain injury, intracranial infection, brain tumors, etc.) or secondary diseases (e.g., heart, liver, or renal failure, etc.)
• Infection at the acupuncture site and/or intolerance to acupuncture therapy
• Contraindications to MRI examination (claustrophobia, surgically implanted metal devices, cochlear implants, implanted pulse generators, etc.)