Language function improvement and cortical activity alteration using scalp acupuncture coupled with speech-language training in post-stroke aphasia: A randomised controlled study
Background: Scalp acupuncture is commonly used as a complementary treatment to improve language function in patients with post-stroke aphasia. Our objectives were to evaluate the impact of scalp acupuncture on the cerebral cortex of post-stroke aphasia patients. Methods: This assessor-blinded, paral...
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| Format: | Article |
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Elsevier
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Complementary Therapies in Medicine |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0965229925000123 |
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| author | Bingbing Lin Jinglei Ni Xiao Xiong Lanlan Zhang Jian Song Mengxue Wang Linsong Chai Yunshi Huang Jia Huang |
| author_facet | Bingbing Lin Jinglei Ni Xiao Xiong Lanlan Zhang Jian Song Mengxue Wang Linsong Chai Yunshi Huang Jia Huang |
| author_sort | Bingbing Lin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Scalp acupuncture is commonly used as a complementary treatment to improve language function in patients with post-stroke aphasia. Our objectives were to evaluate the impact of scalp acupuncture on the cerebral cortex of post-stroke aphasia patients. Methods: This assessor-blinded, parallel-arm design, single-center, randomized clinical trial recruited 64 patients with post-stroke aphasia. They were randomly assigned to either the acupuncture group (n = 32) or the control group (n = 32). The primary outcome measure was the Western Aphasia Battery (WAB) score, while the secondary outcome was the oxygenated haemoglobin (OxyHb) index, which represents cortical activity as measured by functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). All assessments were performed at baseline and post-intervention. Results: The acupuncture group showed significant improvements in WAB subscales (Spontaneous Speech, Comprehension, Repetition, Naming, and AQ) with all changes statistically significant (P < 0.001). The acupuncture group also showed higher OxyHb indices in the left frontopolar area, left fusiform gyrus, and left pars opercularis (P < 0.05). Additionally, OxyHb D-values were significantly greater in the left frontopolar area and right superior temporal gyrus (P < 0.05) compared to the control group. Among non-global aphasia patients, acupuncture improved comprehension and naming tasks, with lower OxyHb in the right visual association cortex and angular gyrus (P < 0.05). In global aphasia patients, improvements were seen in the AQ and Repetition scores, with higher OxyHb in the right inferior prefrontal gyrus (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Adjuvant scalp acupuncture enhances the effectiveness of speech-language therapy in treating repetition and naming impairments in patients with post-stroke aphasia. Additionally, it may modulate cortical activation in the left frontopolar area, left fusiform gyrus, left pars opercularis, and right superior temporal gyrus, and induces different cortical alteration patterns in global and non-global aphasia. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ce31672dc1b44b81a3667721a9b0aecc |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0965-2299 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Complementary Therapies in Medicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-ce31672dc1b44b81a3667721a9b0aecc2025-02-04T04:10:18ZengElsevierComplementary Therapies in Medicine0965-22992025-05-0189103137Language function improvement and cortical activity alteration using scalp acupuncture coupled with speech-language training in post-stroke aphasia: A randomised controlled studyBingbing Lin0Jinglei Ni1Xiao Xiong2Lanlan Zhang3Jian Song4Mengxue Wang5Linsong Chai6Yunshi Huang7Jia Huang8College of Rehabilitation Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, ChinaCollege of Rehabilitation Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, ChinaCollege of Rehabilitation Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, ChinaCollege of Rehabilitation Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, ChinaNational-Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Rehabilitation Medicine Technology, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, ChinaFujian Key Laboratory of Rehabilitation Technology, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, ChinaCollege of Rehabilitation Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, ChinaCollege of Rehabilitation Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, ChinaCollege of Rehabilitation Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, China; Corresponding author.Background: Scalp acupuncture is commonly used as a complementary treatment to improve language function in patients with post-stroke aphasia. Our objectives were to evaluate the impact of scalp acupuncture on the cerebral cortex of post-stroke aphasia patients. Methods: This assessor-blinded, parallel-arm design, single-center, randomized clinical trial recruited 64 patients with post-stroke aphasia. They were randomly assigned to either the acupuncture group (n = 32) or the control group (n = 32). The primary outcome measure was the Western Aphasia Battery (WAB) score, while the secondary outcome was the oxygenated haemoglobin (OxyHb) index, which represents cortical activity as measured by functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). All assessments were performed at baseline and post-intervention. Results: The acupuncture group showed significant improvements in WAB subscales (Spontaneous Speech, Comprehension, Repetition, Naming, and AQ) with all changes statistically significant (P < 0.001). The acupuncture group also showed higher OxyHb indices in the left frontopolar area, left fusiform gyrus, and left pars opercularis (P < 0.05). Additionally, OxyHb D-values were significantly greater in the left frontopolar area and right superior temporal gyrus (P < 0.05) compared to the control group. Among non-global aphasia patients, acupuncture improved comprehension and naming tasks, with lower OxyHb in the right visual association cortex and angular gyrus (P < 0.05). In global aphasia patients, improvements were seen in the AQ and Repetition scores, with higher OxyHb in the right inferior prefrontal gyrus (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Adjuvant scalp acupuncture enhances the effectiveness of speech-language therapy in treating repetition and naming impairments in patients with post-stroke aphasia. Additionally, it may modulate cortical activation in the left frontopolar area, left fusiform gyrus, left pars opercularis, and right superior temporal gyrus, and induces different cortical alteration patterns in global and non-global aphasia.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0965229925000123AcupunctureCortical activityLanguage impairmentNear-infrared spectroscopyOxygenated haemoglobinPost-stroke aphasia |
| spellingShingle | Bingbing Lin Jinglei Ni Xiao Xiong Lanlan Zhang Jian Song Mengxue Wang Linsong Chai Yunshi Huang Jia Huang Language function improvement and cortical activity alteration using scalp acupuncture coupled with speech-language training in post-stroke aphasia: A randomised controlled study Complementary Therapies in Medicine Acupuncture Cortical activity Language impairment Near-infrared spectroscopy Oxygenated haemoglobin Post-stroke aphasia |
| title | Language function improvement and cortical activity alteration using scalp acupuncture coupled with speech-language training in post-stroke aphasia: A randomised controlled study |
| title_full | Language function improvement and cortical activity alteration using scalp acupuncture coupled with speech-language training in post-stroke aphasia: A randomised controlled study |
| title_fullStr | Language function improvement and cortical activity alteration using scalp acupuncture coupled with speech-language training in post-stroke aphasia: A randomised controlled study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Language function improvement and cortical activity alteration using scalp acupuncture coupled with speech-language training in post-stroke aphasia: A randomised controlled study |
| title_short | Language function improvement and cortical activity alteration using scalp acupuncture coupled with speech-language training in post-stroke aphasia: A randomised controlled study |
| title_sort | language function improvement and cortical activity alteration using scalp acupuncture coupled with speech language training in post stroke aphasia a randomised controlled study |
| topic | Acupuncture Cortical activity Language impairment Near-infrared spectroscopy Oxygenated haemoglobin Post-stroke aphasia |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0965229925000123 |
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