This randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover clinical trial aims to investigate the effect of VGH-AD1, a scientific Chinese medicine powder prescription, on patients with Alzheimer's disease.
Dementia is a chronic, progressive neurodegenerative syndrome, characterized by an abroad category of non-reversible impairment in cerebral function, making a long-term and gradual decrease in the ability to mental cognitive tasks and performance of daily activities. The World Health Organization says that 47.5 million people around the world are living with dementia. Alzheimer's disease is accounting for 60-70 percent, the most common type of dementia. According to the record from the Ministry of Health and welfare in Taiwan, the population over 65-year-old is more than 3.36 million. It is estimated that there are more than 250,000 people with mental disabilities and nearly 600,000 people with mild cognitive impairment. With the aging of the population, experts predict that the number of patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease will be up to 800,000. In 2016, a study based on the health insurance database from 1997 to 2008 in Taiwan showed that 78.2 percent of patients have received Chinese medicine treatment, such as herbal medicine and acupuncture after diagnosed as Alzheimer's disease. Therefore, this clinical trial is designed as a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover clinical trial that aims to investigate the effect of VGH-AD1, traditional Chinese herbal medicine powder, on Alzheimer's disease. Participants will be randomized allocated 14 participants into each group A and B. Group A will receive VGH-AD1, while group B will receive a placebo two times per day for eight weeks. Then entry two weeks wash-out period. And then two groups will be switched for another eight weeks. Post-study follow up will be 4 weeks after the intervention end. The study duration is totally 22 weeks. All participants will be assessed by the MMSE, IADL, NPI-Q, IQCODE, GDS, QOL-AD, TCM50, which will be conducted at baseline, week 8,10,18 and 22.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE
Enrollment
28
VGH-AD1 includes Yi-gan-san 3.0g, Huan-shao-dan 1.0g, Danshen(Radix et Rhizoma Salviae Miltiorrhizae) 0.75g, Tian-ma(Rhizoma Gastrodiae) 0.75g, Gou-teng(Ramulus Uncariae Cum Uneis) 0.375g, and Ba-ji-tian(Radix Morindae Officinalis) 0.375g, two times per day, each serving a small packet of 7.5 grams of concentrated granules.
Changes of Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS)
The Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) is a 30-item self-report assessment used to identify depression in the elderly, which will be conducted at baseline, week8, 10,18 and follow-up (22 weeks).
Time frame: week 0, 8, 10,18,22
Changes of Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)
Global cognition will be assessed by the MMSE,which will be conducted at baseline, week8, 10,18 and follow-up (22 weeks).
Time frame: week 0, 8, 10,18,22
Changes of Neuropsychiatric Inventory(NPI-Q)
The Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire (NPI-Q) is an informant-based instrument that measures the presence and severity of 12 Neuropsychiatric Symptoms (NPS) in patients with dementia, as well as informant distress. The NPIQ will be conducted at baseline, week 8, 10,18 and follow-up (22 weeks).
Time frame: week 0, 8, 10,18,22
Changes of Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL)
The instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) contains 8 items, such as shopping, cooking, doing laundry, handling finances, using telephone, mode of transportation, responsibility for own medication and housekeeping. The IADL will be conducted baseline, week 8, 10,18 and follow-up (22 weeks).
Time frame: week 0, 8, 10,18,22
5. Changes of The Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the Elderly (Short-IQCODE)
The Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the Elderly (IQCODE) provides ratings of an individual's changes in everyday cognitive functions during the previous 10 years. The questionnaire contains a total 26 questions with scores 0 to 5. The item includes short-term memory, living skills, writing, house chores, and financial dealing. If the performance remains the same as 10 years ago, then rate 3. If the performance is much worsened compare 10 years ago, then rate 5; oppositely rate 1.
Time frame: week 0, 8, 10,18,22
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Changes of Quality of Life-Alzheimer's Disease (QOL-AD)
The Quality of Life-Alzheimer's Disease (QOL-AD) has 13-items covering physical health, energy, mood, living situations, memory, family, marriage, friends, chores, fun, money, self and life as a whole. The QOL-AD uses straightforward language for simplicity, which will be conducted at baseline, 8, 10,18 and follow-up (22 weeks).
Time frame: week 0, 8, 10,18,22
Changes of Constitution in Chinese Medicine Questionnaire (TCM50)
The Constitution in Chinese Medicine Questionnaire (TCM50) consists of 60 items to classify a person into one or more of nine Body constitution(BC) types: gentleness (8 Items), Qi-deficiency (8 Items), Yang-deficiency (7 Items), Yin-deficiency (8 Items), phlegm-wetness (8 Items), wetness-heat (6 Items), blood-stasis (7 Items), Qi-depression (7 Items), and special diathesis (7 Items). Coexistence of multiple imbalanced BC types was possible which is consistent with the TCM theories. The scoring algorithm proposed in the original CCMQ was adopted in this study. A higher score in the CCMQ BC scale indicates a higher likelihood of the specific BC type, and a score of 30 is set as threshold for case definition. The CCMQ will be conducted at baseline, 8, 10,18 and follow-up (22 weeks).
Time frame: week 0, 8, 10,18,22
Chinese medicine adverse effect assessment
In order to cautiously evaluate and monitor the safety of Chinese medicine, the adverse effect assessment form should be filled each time the subject visits.
Time frame: week 0, 4, 8, 10, 14, 18, 22