Sleep DeprivationNSCLDNCT07084701
Effects of Non-Invasive Superficial Craniocervical Lymphatic Drainage (NSCLD) on Memory and Cognitive Function in Adults With Sleep Deprivation: A Proof-of-Concept Study
A study testing Non-Invasive Superficial Craniocervical Lymphatic Drainage (NSCLD) in people with Sleep Deprivation, run by Tao Liu at 1 site in China.
Trial summary
This Effects of Non-Invasive Superficial Craniocervical Lymphatic Drainage (NSCLD) on Memory and Cognitive Function in Adults with Sleep deprivation: A Proof-of-Concept Study aims to investigate the effects of Non-Invasive Superficial Craniocervical Lymphatic Drainage (NSCLD) on memory and cognitive function in adults… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Sleep Deprivation
- What is being tested?
- Non-Invasive Superficial Craniocervical Lymphatic Drainage (NSCLD)
- Type of treatment
- Medical device
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 30 participants
- Where
- 1 siteChina
- Study dates
- 15 Sep 2025to Dec 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 18 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- College student ≥18 years, all of whom have passed a standardized entrance examination;
- No failed exams during the course of study;
- Sleep deprivation;
- In good health, with no mental or psychological disorders;
- No recent use of medications that may affect memory and cognition;
- Voluntary participation and able to undergo cognitive function and memory testing;
- Informed consent provided
Who cannot join
- Pregnant or breastfeeding women.
- Presence of acute or chronic medical conditions (e.g., severe hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease) that could confound the results.
- History of craniocervical trauma or surgery.
- Current use of sedative or anxiolytic medications that could influence sleep or cognitive function.
- Participants who are unable to follow the procedures or complete the assessments
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Yuezheng Dou contact
China1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Tianjin Medical University General Hospital
Tianjin
About this study
This Effects of Non-Invasive Superficial Craniocervical Lymphatic Drainage (NSCLD) on Memory and Cognitive Function in Adults with Sleep deprivation: A Proof-of-Concept Study aims to investigate the effects of Non-Invasive Superficial Craniocervical Lymphatic Drainage (NSCLD) on memory and cognitive function in adults experiencing sleep deprivation(SD). Given the known impact of SD on cognitive performance, this study seeks to explore whether NSCLD, as a non-invasive intervention, can mitigate the cognitive impairments associated with SD.
Read the detailed description
Sleep deprivation (SD) is widespread in modern society, particularly among medical students, residents, and individuals in high-stress occupations. Numerous studies have demonstrated that acute sleep deprivation significantly impairs cognitive processes such as attention, working memory, and executive function. Even short-term cognitive impairment can have serious consequences, including impaired judgment, slowed reaction times, and increased error rates.
Currently, interventions targeting cognitive decline following sleep deprivation are limited. Common strategies primarily include medications (such as caffeine and modafinil) and restorative sleep. However, these methods have limitations in both clinical and real-life settings: on one hand, medications may lead to tolerance and side effects, and on the other hand, restorative sleep often cannot reverse cognitive impairment in the short term. Therefore, developing a safe, convenient, and rapidly effective non-pharmacological intervention is of great significance.
In recent years, the glymphatic system has garnered increasing attention. This system is believed to play a key role in clearing metabolic waste from the brain, regulating sleep structure, and maintaining neurocognitive function. Superficial craniocervical lymphatic drainage (SCLD) has been proposed as a potential mechanism to improve cognitive function by enhancing the flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and lymph, reducing neuroinflammation, and minimizing the accumulation of metabolic waste.
In June 2025, a study published in Nature provided the first in vivo evidence supporting this hypothesis. Researchers applied non-invasive mechanical stimulation to the superficial lymphatic system on the skin surface of the mouse neck, resulting in a doubling of CSF drainage efficiency to cervical lymph nodes and correction of impaired brain-lymphatic efflux function in aged mice. These findings provide direct mechanistic support for the potential application of non-invasive SCLD intervention in humans.
Therefore, this study aims to establish an acute sleep deprivation model in healthy adults and explore the immediate effects of NSCLD intervention on cognitive function, with the goal of providing preliminary clinical evidence for non-pharmacological intervention strategies related to the brain-lymphatic pathway.
- Conditions
- Sleep Deprivation
- Being tested
- Non-Invasive Superficial Craniocervical Lymphatic Drainage (NSCLD), sham-intervention treatment
- Keywords
- Sleep Deprivation, Non-Invasive Superficial Craniocervical Lymphatic Drainage, Memory, Cognitive Function, NSCLD
- Medical subject headings
- Sleep Deprivation
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Non-Invasive Superficial Craniocervical Lymphatic Drainage (NSCLD)Device
Participants will be randomly assigned to either an intervention group receiving NSCLD or a control group receiving a sham-intervention treatment. Cognitive function will be assessed using standardized tests before and after the intervention.
sham-intervention treatmentDevice
Participants will be randomly assigned to either an intervention group receiving NSCLD or a control group receiving a sham-intervention treatment. Cognitive function will be assessed using standardized tests before and after the intervention.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| NSCLD group | Experimental | NSCLD for 30 minutes, repeated after a 10-minute interval Receives: Device: Non-Invasive Superficial Craniocervical Lymphatic Drainage (NSCLD) |
| Control group | Sham comparator | Not described Receives: Device: sham-intervention treatment |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Digit Span Test
Evaluate memory function. 1 point for each correct string of numbers. Total score: forward score + backward score. Higher scores mean a better outcome.
Measured: Day 1 (Baseline) and Day 2, repeat after a 2-week washout period
Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)
The maximum score is 30 points. ≥26 points is normal. Higher scores mean a better outcome.
Measured: Day 1 (Baseline) and Day 2, repeat after a 2-week washout period
Secondary outcomes (7)
Changes in anxiety, stress, irritability, etc. before and after instant massage
use Multidimensional VAS Battery. 0 points are "not at all", and 100 points are "extremely strong" (points 0- 100)
Measured: Day 1 (Baseline) and Day 2, repeat after a 2-week washout period
Brain metabolic markers and other metabolic indicators
Collect blood for analysis of Aβ42/40, T-Tau, p-tau217, Plasma cortisol, Salivary α-Amylase and β-Endorphin.
Measured: Day 1 (Baseline) and Day 2, repeat after a 2-week washout period
EEG power in alpha, beta, delta and theta band
Measure the power of different frequency bands of EEG and compare the changes.
Measured: Day 1 (Baseline) and Day 2, repeat after a 2-week washout period
Heart rate variability (HRV)
Analyze the different indicators of HRV, including RMSSD, LF, HF, LF/HF ratio, SDNN, etc.
Measured: Day 1 (Baseline) and Day 2, repeat after a 2-week washout period
modified TOEFL iBT
Developed by English language professionals based on TOEFL difficulty and standards, with self-compiled test papers. Full marks: 100 points. To evaluate working memory, learning memory, attention allocation, information processing speed, executive functions (such as planning and monitoring), and the retrieval and integration of long-term memory, among other aspects.
Measured: Day 1 (Baseline) and Day 2, repeat after a 2-week washout period
Computerized Cognitive Assessment
Use N-back task and Psychomotor vigilance task (PVT) ,measure metrics such as reaction time and accuracy rate.
Measured: Day 1 (Baseline) and Day 2, repeat after a 2-week washout period
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
Using functional magnetic resonance imaging to evaluate brain functional activity.
Measured: Day 1 (Baseline) and Day 2, repeat after a 2-week washout period
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted24 Jul 2025
- Study start15 Sep 2025
- Primary completionJun 2026 (estimated)
- Study completionDec 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Sleep DeprivationStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
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
- Crossover
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 30 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Tao Liu
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Xuanwu Hospital, Beijing
- Responsible party
- Sponsor-investigator, Tao Liu, The George Institute
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07084701
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- NSCLD
- Acronym
- NSCLD
- Status last verified
- Dec 2025
- First submitted
- 8 Jul 2025
- Last updated
- 13 Jan 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 13 Jan 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effects of Non-Invasive Superficial Craniocervical Lymphatic Drainage (NSCLD) on Memory and Cognitive Function in Adults With Sleep Deprivation: A Proof-of-Concept Study
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07084701
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- NSCLD / NSCLD
- Conditions
- Sleep Deprivation
- Keywords
- Sleep Deprivation, Non-Invasive Superficial Craniocervical Lymphatic Drainage, Memory, Cognitive Function, NSCLD
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 30 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Tao LiuUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Xuanwu Hospital, Beijing
- Study start
- 15 Sep 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- Jun 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Dec 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 24 Jul 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This Effects of Non-Invasive Superficial Craniocervical Lymphatic Drainage (NSCLD) on Memory and Cognitive Function in Adults with Sleep deprivation: A Proof-of-Concept Study aims to investigate the effects of Non-Invasive Superficial Craniocervical Lymphatic Drainage (NSCLD) on memory and cognitive function in adults experiencing sleep deprivation(SD). Given the known impact of SD on cognitive performance, this study seeks to explore whether NSCLD, as a non-invasive intervention, can mitigate the cognitive impairments associated with SD.
Detailed description
Sleep deprivation (SD) is widespread in modern society, particularly among medical students, residents, and individuals in high-stress occupations. Numerous studies have demonstrated that acute sleep deprivation significantly impairs cognitive processes such as attention, working memory, and executive function. Even short-term cognitive impairment can have serious consequences, including impaired judgment, slowed reaction times, and increased error rates.
Currently, interventions targeting cognitive decline following sleep deprivation are limited. Common strategies primarily include medications (such as caffeine and modafinil) and restorative sleep. However, these methods have limitations in both clinical and real-life settings: on one hand, medications may lead to tolerance and side effects, and on the other hand, restorative sleep often cannot reverse cognitive impairment in the short term. Therefore, developing a safe, convenient, and rapidly effective non-pharmacological intervention is of great significance.
In recent years, the glymphatic system has garnered increasing attention. This system is believed to play a key role in clearing metabolic waste from the brain, regulating sleep structure, and maintaining neurocognitive function. Superficial craniocervical lymphatic drainage (SCLD) has been proposed as a potential mechanism to improve cognitive function by enhancing the flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and lymph, reducing neuroinflammation, and minimizing the accumulation of metabolic waste.
In June 2025, a study published in Nature provided the first in vivo evidence supporting this hypothesis. Researchers applied non-invasive mechanical stimulation to the superficial lymphatic system on the skin surface of the mouse neck, resulting in a doubling of CSF drainage efficiency to cervical lymph nodes and correction of impaired brain-lymphatic efflux function in aged mice. These findings provide direct mechanistic support for the potential application of non-invasive SCLD intervention in humans.
Therefore, this study aims to establish an acute sleep deprivation model in healthy adults and explore the immediate effects of NSCLD intervention on cognitive function, with the goal of providing preliminary clinical evidence for non-pharmacological intervention strategies related to the brain-lymphatic pathway.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| NSCLD group | Experimental | Device: Non-Invasive Superficial Craniocervical Lymphatic Drainage (NSCLD)NSCLD for 30 minutes, repeated after a 10-minute interval |
| Control group | Sham comparator | Device: sham-intervention treatment |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (7 listed)
- College student ≥18 years, all of whom have passed a standardized entrance examination;
- No failed exams during the course of study;
- Sleep deprivation;
- In good health, with no mental or psychological disorders;
- No recent use of medications that may affect memory and cognition;
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Pregnant or breastfeeding women.
- Presence of acute or chronic medical conditions (e.g., severe hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease) that could confound the results.
- History of craniocervical trauma or surgery.
- Current use of sedative or anxiolytic medications that could influence sleep or cognitive function.
- Participants who are unable to follow the procedures or complete the assessments
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Non-Invasive Superficial Craniocervical Lymphatic Drainage (NSCLD)Participants will be randomly assigned to either an intervention group receiving NSCLD or a control group receiving a sham-intervention treatment. Cognitive function will be assessed using standardized tests before and after the intervention. | Device | NSCLD group |
| sham-intervention treatmentParticipants will be randomly assigned to either an intervention group receiving NSCLD or a control group receiving a sham-intervention treatment. Cognitive function will be assessed using standardized tests before and after the intervention. | Device | Control group |
Primary outcome
Digit Span Test
Time frame: Day 1 (Baseline) and Day 2, repeat after a 2-week washout period
Evaluate memory function. 1 point for each correct string of numbers. Total score: forward score + backward score. Higher scores mean a better outcome.
Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)
Time frame: Day 1 (Baseline) and Day 2, repeat after a 2-week washout period
The maximum score is 30 points. ≥26 points is normal. Higher scores mean a better outcome.
7 secondary outcomes
Changes in anxiety, stress, irritability, etc. before and after instant massage
Time frame: Day 1 (Baseline) and Day 2, repeat after a 2-week washout period
Brain metabolic markers and other metabolic indicators
Time frame: Day 1 (Baseline) and Day 2, repeat after a 2-week washout period
EEG power in alpha, beta, delta and theta band
Time frame: Day 1 (Baseline) and Day 2, repeat after a 2-week washout period
Heart rate variability (HRV)
Time frame: Day 1 (Baseline) and Day 2, repeat after a 2-week washout period
modified TOEFL iBT
Time frame: Day 1 (Baseline) and Day 2, repeat after a 2-week washout period
Computerized Cognitive Assessment
Time frame: Day 1 (Baseline) and Day 2, repeat after a 2-week washout period
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
Time frame: Day 1 (Baseline) and Day 2, repeat after a 2-week washout period
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 13 Jan 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided
Related trials for Sleep Deprivation
Recruiting
Investigation of the Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Itch and Pain Sensitivity
Histamine, Cowhage
Recruiting
Neurobehavioral Changes Following Spaceflight Stressors
Stressor, Individual, Alcohol Impairment
Recruiting
The Function of Biphasic Sleep in Infants
Sleep Deprivation
Not yet recruiting
Study on the Mechanism of Central Obesity Induced by Sleep Restriction and the Therapeutic Effect of n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid: a Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trial (COSPA Study)
Sleep Deprivation
Recruiting
Sleep and Circadian Rhythm Intervention in ICU
ICU Hospitalization, Circadian Rhythm
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Yuezheng Dou contact
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Non-Invasive Superficial Craniocervical Lymphatic Drainage (NSCLD) in people with Sleep Deprivation, run by Tao Liu 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 7 inclusion and 5 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 13 Jan 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. 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 Tao Liu, MD (86-18302204804, TLiu1@georgeinstitute.org.au), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Digit Span Test (time frame: Day 1 (Baseline) and Day 2, repeat after a 2-week washout period). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. 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 13 Jan 2026.