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Parkinson's Disease (PD)WARMEDNCT06874803

Acupuncture and Moxibustion for Motor Symptoms in Early Parkinson's Disease

A study testing Acupuncture and Moxibustion (AM) in people with Parkinson's Disease (PD), run by Jiani Wu at 1 site in China.

Recruiting

Looking for participants now. Contact the study team or a site below to ask about taking part.

Sites and contacts
Official record
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Trial summary

This study evaluates the clinical effect and safety of acupuncture combined with moxibustion in improving motor symptoms of early-stage Parkinson's Disease (PD) patients, by assessing the changes in UPDRS scores. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 30 to 80 years
Conditions the study is for
Parkinson's Disease (PD)
What is being tested?
Acupuncture and Moxibustion (AM)
Type of treatment
Surgery or procedure
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
60 participants
Where
1 siteChina
Study dates
1 Aug 2024to 31 Aug 2026
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 30 to 80 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Participants must meet all of the following criteria:
  • 1. Diagnosed with Parkinson's disease (PD) according to the 2016 Chinese 2. Diagnostic Criteria for Parkinson's Disease.
  • 3. Hoehn-Yahr stage <3 (mild to moderate PD). 4. Age between 30 and 80 years (inclusive). 5. Signed informed consent indicating voluntary participation.

Who cannot join

  • Participants meeting any of the following criteria will be excluded:
  • Diagnosed with Parkinson-plus syndromes or other secondary parkinsonism.
  • Prior history of deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery.
  • Severe cerebrovascular disease, brain trauma, or history of craniotomy.
  • Severe dementia or psychiatric disorders that prevent cooperation with study procedures.
  • Severe coagulation disorders.
Show all 11Show fewer
  • Presence of severe systemic organ dysfunction (cardiac, pulmonary, hepatic, renal, endocrine, or metabolic disorders).
  • Pregnant or breastfeeding women.
  • History of allergic reaction to acupuncture or moxibustion.
  • Prior treatment with acupuncture or moxibustion within the past three months.
  • Participation in another clinical trial within the past three months.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

China1 site, 1 recruiting
  • Guang'anmen Hospita, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences

    Beijing, Beijing Municipality, 100000

    Jiaming Cui, 86+18340077036, Jiaming.cui@foxmail.com

    Recruiting

Other trials in China

About this study

Official title: Effect of "Qi-Tonifying, Yang-Warming, and Water-Resolving" Acupuncture and Moxibustion for Motor Symptom Improvement in Early Parkinson's Disease (WARMED): A Randomized Controlled Trial

This study evaluates the clinical effect and safety of acupuncture combined with moxibustion in improving motor symptoms of early-stage Parkinson's Disease (PD) patients, by assessing the changes in UPDRS scores. It also explores objective factors affecting the acupuncture effect and investigates the functional MRI mechanisms of acupuncture in PD treatment.

Being tested
Acupuncture and Moxibustion (AM), Sham Acupuncture and Moxibustion (Sham-AM)
Keywords
Acupuncture, Moxibustion, Parkinson's Disease, Motor Symptoms, Rigidity
Medical subject headings
Parkinson Disease, Muscle Rigidity

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Acupuncture and Moxibustion (AM)Procedure or surgery

    Acupuncture and moxibustion group (AM): Acupuncture at Shuifen (CV9), bilateral Yinlingquan (SP9), bilateral Zhongliao (BL33), and bilateral Weiyang (BL39), combined with moxibustion at Shuifen (CV9) and Zhongliao (BL33).

  • Sham Acupuncture and Moxibustion (Sham-AM)Procedure or surgery

    Sham acupuncture and moxibustion group (sham-AM): Acupuncture at non-acuipoints of bilateral Hegu (LI4) and bilateral Zusanli (ST36), with fake moxibustion at Shuifen (CV9) and bilateral Zhongliao (BL33).

Study groups in NCT06874803
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Acupuncture and Moxibustion Group (AM)ExperimentalParticipants in this group will receive acupuncture and moxibustion therapy alongside standard Parkinson's disease (PD) medication. Acupuncture at Shuifen (CV9), bilateral Yinlingquan (SP9), bilateral Zhongliao (BL33), and bilateral Weiyang (BL39), combined with moxibustion at Shuifen (CV9) and Zhongliao (BL33). Each participant will undergo treatment three times per week for eight weeks (24 total sessions). Standard PD medication will remain unchanged throughout the study.
Receives: Procedure: Acupuncture and Moxibustion (AM)
Sham Acupuncture and Moxibustion Group (Sham-AM)Sham comparatorParticipants in this group will receive sham acupuncture and sham moxibustion alongside standard PD medication. Acupuncture at non-acuipoints of bilateral Hegu (LI4) and bilateral Zusanli (ST36), with fake moxibustion at Shuifen (CV9) and bilateral Zhongliao (BL33). Treatments will be conducted three times per week for eight weeks (24 total sessions). Standard PD medication will remain unchanged.
Receives: Procedure: Sham Acupuncture and Moxibustion (Sham-AM)

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. The score change from baseline in the MDS-UPDRS part III after 8-week treatment

    The MDS-UPDRS (Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale) Part III assesses motor function in Parkinson's disease patients. It evaluates a range of motor symptoms, including tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia, postural instability, and gait. The scale is widely used to track disease progression and response to treatment. It consists of 26 items, scored based on the severity of each symptom.

    Measured: evaluation time points: baseline, week 8.

Secondary outcomes (13)
  1. The score change from baseline in the MDS-UPDRS part III after 8-week follow-up

    The MDS-UPDRS (Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale) Part III assesses motor function in Parkinson's disease patients. It evaluates a range of motor symptoms, including tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia, postural instability, and gait. The scale is widely used to track disease progression and response to treatment. It consists of 26 items, scored based on the severity of each symptom.

    Measured: evaluation time points: baseline, week 16.

  2. Changes in VAS scores of rigidity and bradykinesia after 8-week treatment and 8-week follow-up

    The VAS range from 0-10, with higher score indicating more severe symptoms

    Measured: evaluation time points: baseline, week 8, week 16.

  3. The score change from baseline in the MDS-UPDRS part II after 8-week treatment and 8-week follow-up

    The MDS-UPDRS Part II evaluates the activities of daily living (ADL) in Parkinson's disease patients. It assesses how motor and non-motor symptoms impact daily functioning, including tasks such as dressing, eating, and walking. This section helps in understanding the patient's ability to perform everyday activities. It consists of 13 items, each scored based on the level of difficulty experienced.

    Measured: evaluation time points: baseline, week 8, week 16.

  4. The change from baseline in the MDS-UPDRS total score after 8-week treatment and 8-week follow-up

    The MDS-UPDRS (Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale) is a comprehensive tool used to assess the severity of Parkinson's disease symptoms. It is divided into four parts: motor examination (Part III), activities of daily living (Part II), non-motor experiences of daily living (Part I), and motor complications (Part IV). This scale helps in tracking disease progression, evaluating treatment efficacy, and improving clinical decision-making.

    Measured: evaluation time points: baseline, week 8, week 16.

  5. The proportion of participants with ≥30% decrease of MDS-UPDRS Part III after 8-week treatment and 8-week follow-up

    The MDS-UPDRS (Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale) Part III assesses motor function in Parkinson's disease patients. It evaluates a range of motor symptoms, including tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia, postural instability, and gait. The scale is widely used to track disease progression and response to treatment. It consists of 26 items, scored based on the severity of each symptom.

    Measured: evaluation time points: baseline, week 8, week 16.

  6. The change from baseline in PDQ-39 after 8-week treatment and 8-week follow-up

    The PDQ-39 (Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire-39) is a patient-reported outcome measure used to assess the health-related quality of life in Parkinson's disease patients. It includes 39 items covering eight domains: mobility, activities of daily living, emotional well-being, stigma, social support, cognition, communication, and sleep. Each item is scored based on the degree of difficulty or discomfort, and the results are summarized to provide an overall score. Higher scores indicate greater impairment in quality of life.

    Measured: evaluation time points: baseline, week 8, week 16.

  7. The change from baseline in PDSS after 8-week treatment and 8-week follow-up

    The Parkinson's Disease Sleep Scale (PDSS) is a tool used to assess sleep disturbances in Parkinson's disease patients. It consists of 15 items, covering sleep quality, nighttime symptoms, and daytime sleepiness. Each item is rated on a scale from 0 to 4, with higher scores indicating more severe sleep problems. The total score helps to evaluate the overall impact of sleep disturbances on the patient's quality of life.

    Measured: evaluation time points: baseline, week 8, week 16.

  8. The change from baseline in SDS after 8-week treatment and 8-week follow-up

    The Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) is a tool used to assess the severity of depressive symptoms. It consists of 20 items, each addressing mood, behavior, and physical symptoms related to depression. Each item is scored on a 4-point scale, ranging from "none" to "severe." Higher total scores indicate more severe depressive symptoms, helping to assess the patient's mental health status.

    Measured: evaluation time points: baseline, week 8, week 16.

  9. The change from baseline in SAS after 8-week treatment and 8-week follow-up

    The Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) is a tool used to assess the severity of anxiety symptoms. It consists of 20 items, which evaluate physical and psychological symptoms of anxiety. Each item is scored on a 4-point scale, from "none" to "severe." Higher total scores indicate greater levels of anxiety, helping to gauge the patient's emotional and mental state.

    Measured: evaluation time points: baseline, week 8, week 16.

  10. The change from baseline in functional MRI signals after 8-week treatment.

    The hospital's radiology department uses functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to measure and map brain activity by detecting changes in blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) signals in different brain regions.

    Measured: evaluation time points: baseline, week 8.

  11. Subgroup analysis of gender in the score change from baseline in the MDS-UPDRS part III after 8-week treatment

    Stratifying by gender into male and female subgroups, we assessed the difference in MDS-UPDRS Part III scores within each subgroup to compare the efficacy between men and women. The MDS-UPDRS (Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale) Part III assesses motor function in Parkinson's disease patients. It evaluates a range of motor symptoms, including tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia, postural instability, and gait. The scale is widely used to track disease progression and response to treatment. It consists of 26 items, scored based on the severity of each symptom.

    Measured: evaluation time points: baseline, week 8.

  12. Subgroup analysis of age in the score change from baseline in the MDS-UPDRS part III after 8-week treatment

    Age stratification was performed by dividing participants into two subgroups: those younger than 60 years and those aged 60 and above. The difference in MDS-UPDRS Part III scores was assessed within each subgroup to compare the treatment efficacy between the two age subgroups. The MDS-UPDRS (Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale) Part III assesses motor function in Parkinson's disease patients. It evaluates a range of motor symptoms, including tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia, postural instability, and gait. The scale is widely used to track disease progression and response to treatment. It consists of 26 items, scored based on the severity of each symptom.

    Measured: evaluation time points: baseline, week 8.

  13. Subgroup analysis of disease severity in the score change from baseline in the MDS-UPDRS part III after 8-week treatment

    Patients were stratified based on disease severity using the Hoehn and Yahr staging system into four subgroups: stage 1, 1.5, 2, and 2.5. The efficacy differences across disease stages were assessed by evaluating the change in MDS-UPDRS Part III scores within each subgroup. The difference in MDS-UPDRS Part III scores was assessed within each subgroup to compare the treatment efficacy between the two age subgroups. The MDS-UPDRS (Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale) Part III assesses motor function in Parkinson's disease patients. It evaluates a range of motor symptoms, including tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia, postural instability, and gait. The scale is widely used to track disease progression and response to treatment. It consists of 26 items, scored based on the severity of each symptom.

    Measured: evaluation time points: baseline, week 8.

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted13 Mar 2025
  2. Study start1 Aug 2024
  3. Primary completion31 Aug 2025 (estimated)
  4. Study completion31 Aug 2026 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Quadruple blind
Who is masked
Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
60 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT06874803
Sponsor's protocol ID
HLCMHPP2023003
Acronym
WARMED
Status last verified
Jul 2025
First submitted
24 Feb 2025
Last updated
20 Jul 2025
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Yes: De-identified individual participant data (IPD) will be shared, including all IPD that underlie the results reported in future publications. The data will include demographic information, clinical assessments, MDS-UPDRS scores, VAS scores, PDQ-39 scores, PDSS scores, SAS/SDS scores, and fMRI imaging data.

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Acupuncture and Moxibustion (AM) in people with Parkinson's Disease (PD), run by Jiani Wu at 1 site in China.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 11 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 20 Jul 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in China. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

Contact Yu Liu, MD (8572650199, yliu133@mgh.harvard.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

The score change from baseline in the MDS-UPDRS part III after 8-week treatment (time frame: evaluation time points: baseline, week 8.). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 20 Jul 2025.

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