Mouse Nerve Growth Factor (mNGF) acupoint injection significantly boosts post-stroke cognitive and motor recovery when combined with scalp acupuncture.
Background
Post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) is a debilitating complication of stroke, severely hindering patient rehabilitation and diminishing quality of life. Current conventional cognitive training often yields limited improvements, highlighting an urgent need for more effective and safe interventions. Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) plays a crucial role in neuronal survival, differentiation, and plasticity, making it a promising candidate for neurorestoration. Acupuncture, particularly scalp acupuncture, is also recognized for its neuroprotective and cognitive-enhancing effects in stroke recovery, potentially by modulating pathways like IRS-1/PI3K/AKT and glucose transporters.
Study Design
This randomized controlled trial enrolled 84 patients with PSCI, allocating them into three groups (n=28 per group) for 4 weeks of intervention. Group A received conventional cognitive training. Group B received conventional training plus scalp acupuncture. Group C received the combined treatment of Group B along with mouse nerve growth factor (mNGF) via acupoint injection. Primary endpoints included the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) for cognitive function, Activities of Daily Living (ADL) for independence, Modified Barthel Index (MBI) for basic self-care, and Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) for motor function.
Results
All three groups showed significant within-group improvements across MoCA, ADL, MBI, and FMA scores after the 4-week intervention. However, Group C, receiving the triple therapy including mNGF acupoint injection, achieved superior cognitive and functional outcomes. The post-treatment MoCA score in Group C was 26.7 ± 2.9 (95% CI, 25.53-27.87), which was significantly higher than Group A's 21.5 ± 3.5 (95% CI, 20.22-22.78, P < 0.001) and Group B's 23.8 ± 3.2 (95% CI, 22.48-25.12, P = 0.003).
Key Findings
- Triple therapy (training + scalp acupuncture + mNGF injection) yielded optimal cognitive efficacy.
- Group C's post-treatment
MoCAscore was 26.7 ± 2.9, significantly higher than Group A (21.5 ± 3.5, P < 0.001) and Group B (23.8 ± 3.2, P = 0.003). - Group C achieved the lowest
ADLscore (F = 28.963, P < 0.001), indicating better independence. - Motor function (
FMA) and basic self-care (MBI) also significantly improved in Group C compared to other groups (P < 0.001 for both).
Why It Matters
This study suggests that combining mNGF acupoint injection with scalp acupuncture and conventional training offers a potent strategy for enhancing post-stroke cognitive and motor recovery. For clinicians and biohackers exploring neurorehabilitation, this multi-modal approach could significantly improve patient independence and quality of life beyond standard care. While mNGF is not human NGF, the findings highlight the potential of growth factor delivery via acupoints. This protocol provides a clear framework for a combined therapy, indicating that synergistic interventions can yield superior outcomes compared to single modalities, potentially accelerating the translation of neurotrophic factors into practical clinical use for PSCI.
mngf
nerve-growth-factor
post-stroke-cognitive-impairment
psci
acupuncture
neurorehabilitation