Low-frequency Electrical Stimulation for Cognitive Enhancement in Atrial Fibrillation

NCT ID: NCT07063381

Last Updated: 2025-07-17

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

60 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2025-09-01

Study Completion Date

2027-12-31

Brief Summary

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Cognitive function in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) is often impaired due to the complex influence of various factors (cerebral hypoperfusion, neurodegeneration, microemboli, hypertension, chronic inflammation). This leads to impairment of cognitive functions, including attention, memory, executive functions, and speed of information processing. The search for affordable and safe methods to maintain or improve cognitive function in this group of people is an urgent task of modern medicine. One of the promising approaches is percutaneous low-frequency electrical stimulation of the auricular branch of the vagus nerve (transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation - tVNS).

The auricular (auricular) branch of the vagus nerve is a peripheral branch of the vagus nerve innervating the skin of the auricle in the area of the tragus and the inner part of the external auditory canal. The tVNS engages the sensory fibres of the vagus nerve and thus mimics the sensory input to the brainstem, forming the so-called auriculo-vagal afferent pathway. Since these fibres project directly to the nucleus of the solitary pathway (solitary tract), which, in turn, has direct and indirect projections to the nuclei providing noradrenergic, endorphinergic and serotoninergic fibres in various parts of the brain regulating systemic indices of cardiovascular, respiratory and immunological functions, the organism's response to stimulation of the auricular branch of the vagus nerve is systemic in nature.

Stimulation of this nerve can modulate central nervous system (CNS) activity, affecting processes related to memory, attention and emotional state. Mechanisms of action of tVNS include modulation of parasympathetic activity, enhancement of neuroplasticity through increased expression of neurotrophic factors (e.g., BDNF), improvement of cerebral blood circulation, and regulation of neuroinflammation (reduction of proinflammatory cytokines).

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Cognitive Function Abnormal Atrial Fibrillation (AF)

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

A randomized double-blind controlled trial in two groups (1:1)
Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

TRIPLE

Participants Caregivers Investigators

Study Groups

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Active tVNS

Active stimulation will be carried out using the tVNS device with an ear clip attached to the tragus of the left ear at a frequency of 20 Hz, 250 μs at a current slightly below the discomfort threshold. The device's operating mode is active therapeutic.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

tVNS

Intervention Type DEVICE

tVNS will be performed daily after workouts for 60 minutes over a period of 6 months.

Sham tVNS

Fictitious stimulation will be carried out using the tVNS device with an ear clip attached to the tragus of the left ear at a frequency of 20 Hz, 250 μs at a current slightly below the discomfort threshold. The device's operating mode is research mode.

Group Type SHAM_COMPARATOR

tVNS

Intervention Type DEVICE

tVNS will be performed daily after workouts for 60 minutes over a period of 6 months.

Interventions

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tVNS

tVNS will be performed daily after workouts for 60 minutes over a period of 6 months.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Age over 60 years,
* Permanent form of AF,
* Severe and mild cognitive impairment (\<26 points on the MoCA-8 test),
* The possibility of regular repeat visits for 6 months.

Exclusion Criteria

* Atrioventricular blockade of 2-3 degree,
* Expressed sinus bradycardia with resting heart rate \< 40 bpm
* Any oncological diseases,
* Severe chronic liver and kidney pathology,
* Chronic viral infections.
Minimum Eligible Age

60 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

90 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Lobachevsky University

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role collaborator

Bakulev Scientific Center of Cardiovascular Surgery

OTHER_GOV

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Vladimir A Shvartz, MD

Principal Investigator

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

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Bakulev National Medical Research Center for Cardiovascular Surgery

Moscow, , Russia

Site Status

Neurodynamics and Cognitive Technologies Research Laboratory of the Neuroscience Research Institute

Nizhny Novgorod, , Russia

Site Status

Countries

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Russia

Central Contacts

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Vladimir Shvartz

Role: CONTACT

+79032619292

Facility Contacts

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Andrey Savosenkov

Role: primary

+79503715803

Other Identifiers

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H-465-99_2025-2027

Identifier Type: OTHER

Identifier Source: secondary_id

0034.2025

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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