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Alzheimer's DiseaseNCT06936514

Clinical Study on Deep Cervical Lymphatic Trunk Decompression Combined With Mid-Cervical Deep Lymph Node-External Jugular Vein Anastomosis for Alzheimer's Disease Treatment

A study testing Bilateral Cervical Deep Lymphatic Trunk Decompression Combined with Mid-Cervical Deep Lymph Node-External Jugular Vein Anastomosis for Alzheimer's Disease in people with Alzheimer's Disease, run by Oriental Neurosurgery Evidence-Based-Study Team at 1 site in China.

Enrolling by invitation

Enrolling by invitation. The study team selects and invites participants, usually from an existing group of patients.

Sites and contacts
Official record
Search all trials

Trial summary

The aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of bilateral deep cervical lymphatic trunk decompression combined with mid and deep cervical lymph node-extracervical vein anastomosis in the treatment of patients with Alzheimer's disease. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 50 to 80 years
Conditions the study is for
Alzheimer's Disease
What is being tested?
Bilateral Cervical Deep Lymphatic Trunk Decompression Combined with Mid-Cervical Deep Lymph Node-External Jugular Vein Anastomosis for Alzheimer's Disease
Type of treatment
Surgery or procedure
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
45 participants
Where
1 siteChina
Study dates
8 Jan 2025to 10 Jul 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 50 to 80 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Age 50-80 years;
  • Meet the diagnostic criteria for AD in the Revised Criteria for the Diagnosis and Staging of Alzheimer's Disease (2024) published by the National Institute Aging and Alzheimer's Association (NIA-AA);
  • Presence of moderate-to-severe cognitive impairment with a Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) score ≥2, and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score of < 20;
  • Stable use of medication for ≥1 month and no planned change in medication within 3 months of randomisation;
  • The patients and their families had been informed of the purpose, significance, expected effects and potential risks of the study and voluntarily participated in the study by providing biological samples and signing an informed consent form.

Who cannot join

  • Dementia caused by other reasons: vascular dementia, central nervous system infections (e.g. HIV, syphilis, etc.), Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, Huntington's chorea and Parkinson's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, dementia due to traumatic brain injury, other physical and chemical factors (e.g. drug intoxication, alcohol intoxication, carbon monoxide intoxication, etc.), important physical diseases (e.g. hepatic encephalopathy, pulmonary encephalopathy, etc.), intracranial occupying lesions (e.g. subdural haematoma, brain tumour), endocrine system lesions (e.g. thyroid disease, parathyroid disease), and vitamin deficiency or any other cause of dementia;
  • Presence of current serious or unstable medical conditions, including cardiovascular, hepatic, renal, gastrointestinal, respiratory, endocrine, neurological (except for cognitive impairment of AD origin), psychiatric, immunological or haematological disorders, and any other condition which, in the opinion of the investigator, may affect the results of the analyses in this study; or a life expectancy of <24 months;
  • Presence of a history of cancer within 5 years, with the exception of non-metastatic basal cell and/or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, cervical carcinoma in situ, non-progressive prostate cancer, or other cancers with a low risk of recurrence or spread;
  • Subjects with a current diagnosis of any primary psychiatric disorder other than cognitive impairment of AD origin, which requires exclusion if, in the opinion of the Investigator, the presence of the psychiatric disorder or symptom may interfere with interpretation of the effects of the LVA, interfere with cognitive assessment, or interfere with the subject's ability to complete the study. Exclusion is required for subjects with a history of schizophrenia or other chronic psychiatric illness;
  • Subjects who, in the judgement of the investigator, are actively suicidal and therefore considered to be at significant risk of suicide;
  • Illiteracy or insufficient education to complete the scale assessment;
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  • A history of alcohol or drug abuse (other than a history of smoking) in the 2 years prior to the screening visit;
  • A clinically significant history of multiple or severe drug allergies, significant atopic sensitivities, or severe post-treatment hypersensitivity reactions (including, but not limited to, erythema multiforme, linear IgA dermatosis, toxic epidermal necrolysis-relaxation, and/or exfoliative dermatitis);
  • Clinically significant abnormalities of clinical significance (as determined by the investigator) on physical or neurological examination, vital signs, ECG, or clinical laboratory findings at screening that may be detrimental to the subject, interfere with the study, or suggest evidence of other causes of dementia;
  • MRI results at screening that show evidence of significant abnormalities suggesting the presence of another potential etiology of progressive cognitive impairment or the presence of clinically significant findings which may compromise the subject's ability to safely participate in the study. For example, >2 infarct foci >2 cm in diameter; infarct foci in key areas such as thalamus, hippocampus, internal olfactory cortex, parafactory cortex, angular gyrus, cortex and other subcortical grey matter nuclei; and a Fazekas Scale grade of >2 on the Cerebral White Matter Impairment Scale (CWMIS);
  • Presence of any contraindication to MRI, including claustrophobia, or presence of prohibited metallic (ferromagnetic) implants/pacemakers;
  • Presence of contraindications to LVA surgery, such as the presence of severe infection at the surgical site, severe cardiac, pulmonary, hepatic, renal, or other systemic functional abnormalities that cannot tolerate general anaesthesia surgery;
  • Currently participating in a clinical trial involving other interventional clinical trials, or participating in any other type of medical research that is considered scientifically or medically incompatible with this study;
  • Other reasons that prevent completion of this study: e.g., lack of a stable caregiver;
  • Female subjects who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant;
  • Patients with a Global Deterioration Scale (GDS) score of 7 were excluded, as the profound loss of verbal communication and basic motor function at this stage precluded adherence to study protocols and reliable participation in postoperative assessments.
  • is a member of the Research Centre staff and/or his/her immediate family directly related to this study. Immediate family is defined as a spouse, parent, child, or sibling, whether biologically or legally adopted.
  • who were currently receiving or had previously received anti-amyloid β disease-modifying therapies (DMTs), or who had participated in clinical trials involving such agents, were not eligible for inclusion.

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
  • General Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, 154 Anshan Road, Heping District, Tianjin, China

    Tianjin

Other trials in China

About this study

Official title: Bilateral Cervical Deep Lymphatic Trunk Decompression Combined With Mid-Cervical Deep Lymph Node-External Jugular Vein Anastomosis for the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

The aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of bilateral deep cervical lymphatic trunk decompression combined with mid and deep cervical lymph node-extracervical vein anastomosis in the treatment of patients with Alzheimer's disease. The study seeks to explore new treatment options that may improve the quality of life for patients with Alzheimer's disease.

Read the detailed description

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by memory loss, cognitive impairment, and behavioral changes, ultimately leading to the inability of patients to perform daily activities independently. Despite the availability of various pharmacological treatments aimed at alleviating the progression of the disease, current therapeutic approaches are unable to effectively delay or reverse the course of AD. Therefore, the treatment of Alzheimer's disease remains a significant challenge in the global medical community. This issue is particularly pressing in patients with moderate to severe AD, as existing therapies have limited efficacy, creating a critical need for novel treatment strategies.

The discovery of the brain's lymphatic system has opened new avenues for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease. Recent studies have shown that the meningeal lymphatic vessels play a crucial role in clearing waste products from the brain, including neurotoxins such as amyloid-beta, which accumulate in patients with AD. Dysfunction of this lymphatic drainage system has been implicated in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. This insight has spurred interest in enhancing lymphatic drainage as a potential therapeutic approach for AD.

Lymphatic-venous anastomosis (LVA) is a surgical technique traditionally used to treat lymphedema and other lymphatic drainage disorders. It involves surgically connecting lymphatic vessels to nearby veins, allowing lymph fluid to flow directly into the venous system. Studies have suggested that LVA may help improve lymphatic drainage in the brain and potentially reduce the accumulation of harmful substances associated with Alzheimer's disease, thereby slowing disease progression. This research aims to provide valuable insights into the potential of enhancing brain lymphatic drainage as a therapeutic strategy for Alzheimer's disease, potentially leading to significant breakthroughs in its treatment.

Being tested
Bilateral Cervical Deep Lymphatic Trunk Decompression Combined with Mid-Cervical Deep Lymph Node-External Jugular Vein Anastomosis for Alzheimer's Disease

What participants receive

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

  • Bilateral Cervical Deep Lymphatic Trunk Decompression Combined with Mid-Cervical Deep Lymph Node-External Jugular Vein Anastomosis for Alzheimer's DiseaseProcedure or surgery

    This intervention involves a surgical approach that combines bilateral cervical deep lymphatic trunk decompression with mid-cervical deep lymph node-external jugular vein anastomosis (LVA) to enhance lymphatic drainage in Alzheimer's Disease (AD) patients. The aim is to reduce the accumulation of neurotoxic substances in the brain, potentially improving cognitive function by facilitating waste clearance via the lymphatic system. The procedure is intended to restore normal lymphatic flow, potentially slowing disease progression in AD patients who have moderate to severe cognitive impairment.

Study groups in NCT06936514
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Experimental group (Surgical group)Experimentalbilateral cervical deep lymphatic trunk decompression combined with mid-cervical deep lymph node-external jugular vein anastomosis
Receives: Procedure: Bilateral Cervical Deep Lymphatic Trunk Decompression Combined with Mid-Cervical Deep Lymph Node-External Jugular Vein Anastomosis for Alzheimer's Disease
control groupNo interventionPatients are not subject to surgical intervention, only medication is administered

What is being measured

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

  1. Change in Alzheimer's disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive Subscale 13 (ADAS-Cog13)

    The Alzheimer's disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive Subscale 13 (ADAS-Cog 13) will be used to evaluate the general cognitive function. ADAS-Cog 13 ranges from 0 to 85, and higher value represents a worse outcome.

    Measured: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 3 days, 7 days, 1 month, 3 months.

  2. Change in Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)

    The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) will be used to evaluate the general cognitive function. MoCA ranges from 0 to 30, and higher value represents a better outcome.

    Measured: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 3 days, 7 days, 1 month, 3 months.

  3. Change in Mini-mental State Examination (MMSE)

    The Mini-mental State Examination (MMSE) will be used to evaluate the general cognitive function. MMSE ranges from 0 to 30, and higher value represents a better outcome.

    Measured: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 3 days, 7 days, 1 month, 3 months.

  4. Change in Clinical Dementia Rating Scale sum of the boxes (CDR-SB)

    The Clinical Dementia Rating Scale sum of the boxes (CDR-SB) will be used to evaluate the general cognitive function. CDR-SB ranges from 0 to 18, and higher value represents a worse outcome.

    Measured: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 3 days, 7 days, 1 month, 3 months.

  5. Change in Clinical Dementia Rating Scale global score (CDR-GS)

    The Clinical Dementia Rating Scale global score (CDR-GS) will be used to evaluate the general cognitive function. CDR-GS ranges from 0 to 3, and higher value represents a worse outcome.

    Measured: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 3 days, 7 days, 1 month, 3 months.

Secondary outcomes (1)
  1. Change in amyloid deposit in brain

    Change from baseline as measured by amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) scan using centiloids. The centiloid scale anchor points are 0 and 100, where 0 represents a high-certainty amyloid negative scan and 100 represents the amount of global amyloid deposition found in a typical AD scan. A negative change indicates an improvement from baseline.

    Measured: Baseline and 3 months after surgery

Timeline

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

  1. First posted20 Apr 2025
  2. Study start8 Jan 2025
  3. Primary completion10 Jul 2025
  4. Study completion10 Jul 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
Non-randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Single blind
Who is masked
Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
45 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT06936514
Sponsor's protocol ID
IRB2025-YX-099-01
Status last verified
Apr 2025
First submitted
22 Mar 2025
Last updated
19 Feb 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Benveniste H, Liu X, Koundal S, Sanggaard S, Lee H, Wardlaw J. The Glymphatic System and Waste Clearance with Brain Aging: A Review. Gerontology. 2019;65(2):106-119. doi: 10.1159/000490349. Epub 2018 Jul 11.

    PubMed 29996134
  • Goodman JR, Adham ZO, Woltjer RL, Lund AW, Iliff JJ. Characterization of dural sinus-associated lymphatic vasculature in human Alzheimer's dementia subjects. Brain Behav Immun. 2018 Oct;73:34-40. doi: 10.1016/j.bbi.2018.07.020. Epub 2018 Jul 25.

    PubMed 30055243
  • MohanaSundaram A, Mofatteh M, Ashraf GM, Pratico D. Glymphotherapeutics for Alzheimer's disease: Time to move the needle. Ageing Res Rev. 2024 Nov;101:102478. doi: 10.1016/j.arr.2024.102478. Epub 2024 Aug 31.

    PubMed 39222666
  • Guo X, Zhang G, Peng Q, Huang L, Zhang Z, Zhang Z. Emerging Roles of Meningeal Lymphatic Vessels in Alzheimer's Disease. J Alzheimers Dis. 2023;94(s1):S355-S366. doi: 10.3233/JAD-221016.

    PubMed 36683509
  • Jiang H, Wei H, Zhou Y, Xiao X, Zhou C, Ji X. Overview of the meningeal lymphatic vessels in aging and central nervous system disorders. Cell Biosci. 2022 Dec 17;12(1):202. doi: 10.1186/s13578-022-00942-z.

    PubMed 36528776
  • Wu Y, Zhang T, Li X, Wei Y, Li X, Wang S, Liu J, Li D, Wang S, Ye T. Borneol-driven meningeal lymphatic drainage clears amyloid-beta peptide to attenuate Alzheimer-like phenotype in mice. Theranostics. 2023 Jan 1;13(1):106-124. doi: 10.7150/thno.76133. eCollection 2023.

    PubMed 36593948
  • Zhang X, Cao R, Zhu C, Yang L, Zheng N, Ji W, Liu P, Chi T, Ji X, Zheng Z, Chen G, Zou L. Mechanism of anti-AD action of OAB-14 by enhancing the function of glymphatic system. Neurochem Int. 2023 Oct 27:105633. doi: 10.1016/j.neuint.2023.105633. Online ahead of print.

    PubMed 39491236
  • Chen Y, He X, Cai J, Li Q. Functional aspects of the brain lymphatic drainage system in aging and neurodegenerative diseases. J Biomed Res. 2024 Mar 2;38(3):206-221. doi: 10.7555/JBR.37.20230264.

    PubMed 38430054
  • Pu T, Zou W, Feng W, Zhang Y, Wang L, Wang H, Xiao M. Persistent Malfunction of Glymphatic and Meningeal Lymphatic Drainage in a Mouse Model of Subarachnoid Hemorrhage. Exp Neurobiol. 2019 Feb;28(1):104-118. doi: 10.5607/en.2019.28.1.104. Epub 2019 Feb 28.

    PubMed 30853828
  • Li G, Cao Y, Tang X, Huang J, Cai L, Zhou L. The meningeal lymphatic vessels and the glymphatic system: Potential therapeutic targets in neurological disorders. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab. 2022 Aug;42(8):1364-1382. doi: 10.1177/0271678X221098145. Epub 2022 Apr 28.

    PubMed 35484910
  • Da Mesquita S, Louveau A, Vaccari A, Smirnov I, Cornelison RC, Kingsmore KM, Contarino C, Onengut-Gumuscu S, Farber E, Raper D, Viar KE, Powell RD, Baker W, Dabhi N, Bai R, Cao R, Hu S, Rich SS, Munson JM, Lopes MB, Overall CC, Acton ST, Kipnis J. Functional aspects of meningeal lymphatics in ageing and Alzheimer's disease. Nature. 2018 Aug;560(7717):185-191. doi: 10.1038/s41586-018-0368-8. Epub 2018 Jul 25.

    PubMed 30046111
  • Aspelund A, Antila S, Proulx ST, Karlsen TV, Karaman S, Detmar M, Wiig H, Alitalo K. A dural lymphatic vascular system that drains brain interstitial fluid and macromolecules. J Exp Med. 2015 Jun 29;212(7):991-9. doi: 10.1084/jem.20142290. Epub 2015 Jun 15.

    PubMed 26077718

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Bilateral Cervical Deep Lymphatic Trunk Decompression Combined with Mid-Cervical Deep Lymph Node-External Jugular Vein Anastomosis for Alzheimer's Disease in people with Alzheimer&#39;s Disease, run by Oriental Neurosurgery Evidence-Based-Study Team 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 5 inclusion and 18 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: enrolling by invitation, as of the sponsor's last update on 19 Feb 2026. 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. 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?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Change in Alzheimer's disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive Subscale 13 (ADAS-Cog13) (time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 3 days, 7 days, 1 month, 3 months.). The study lists 5 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT06936514, which also lists 12 linked publications.

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 19 Feb 2026; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 4 Nov 2026.

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