A blocked neck artery may steal your memory. can a procedure bring it back?
NCT ID NCT07803419
First seen Sep 03, 2026 · Last updated Sep 04, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This trial tests whether a procedure to reopen a blocked carotid artery in the neck can improve cognitive function in people who have had a stroke or mini-stroke and now have thinking or memory problems. Participants are randomly assigned to receive standard medical care alone, or the procedure with or without a protective balloon to catch debris. The study measures changes in cognitive scores and looks for new brain lesions on MRI scans to see if the procedure is safe and helpful.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Endovascular recanalization, a procedure to reopen a blocked carotid artery, with or without a balloon guide catheter for protection
- What this could lead to
- If it works, reopening a blocked carotid artery could improve thinking and memory in people who have had a stroke or mini-stroke, and reduce the risk of further brain damage.
- What could go wrong
- The procedure carries risks, including new brain lesions from dislodged debris. This is a pilot trial, so results may not apply to everyone, and the benefits are not yet proven.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
-
About 180 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Expected to start
-
Sep 2026
An estimate. Start dates often move.
- Expected to finish
-
Dec 2028
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
-
Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
-
18 to 80 years
- Sex
-
Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: 1. The age ranged from 18 to 80 years 2. Unilateral carotid artery occlusion confirmed by CTA or DSA (excluding anterior and middle cerebral artery occlusion) 3. Complete 3T-MRI within 1-3 days before operation 4. The time of carotid artery occlusion was more than 24h (confirmed by imaging or according to the patient's condition), and not more than 3 months 5. Ischemic stroke or TIA related to occluded vessels existed in the past 3 months, and the last ischemic event was \> 2 weeks; and there was cognitive impairment, MoCA score ≤ 25 after education correction 6. Imaging confirmed that there was hypoperfusion in the ipsilateral cerebral hemisphere of carotid artery occlusion, which met at least any of the following requirements: ①Head CT perfusion imaging showed low perfusion in the lesion vascular area (CBF decreased by 30% compared with contralateral perfusion) ②ASITN/SIR collateral circulation score based on DSA \< 3 points ③Cerebral infarction with hemodynamic abnormalities confirmed by head MRI (such as watershed infarction) 7. Sign the informed consent form Exclusion Criteria: 1. There was severe neurological dysfunction (mRS ≥ 4) before enrollment 2. The ipsilateral common carotid artery was occluded, or the ipsilateral middle cerebral artery was severely stenosed or occluded 3. Non atherosclerotic occlusion (such as vasculitis, moyamoya disease, etc.) 4. Patients with massive cerebral infarction (infarction volume based on MRI-DWI/ADC is more than 70ml) 5. Untreated intracranial aneurysms, intracranial tumors (except meningiomas) or any intracranial vascular malformations 6. Evidence of cardiogenic embolism 7. Allergic to heparin, aspirin, clopidogrel, statins, metals, anesthetics, contrast agents, or unable to tolerate general anesthesia surgery 8. Any history of intracranial hemorrhage within 30 days (including cerebral parenchyma, ventricle, subarachnoid hemorrhage, subdural or epidural) 9. History of primary cerebral parenchymal hemorrhage 10. There are contraindications to antiplatelet drugs 11. There are coagulation disorders and systemic bleeding 12. Thrombocytopenia (\<100 × 10⁹/L) 13. Uncontrolled severe hypertension (systolic blood pressure\>180mmHg or diastolic blood pressure\>110mmHg) 14. Severe coronary heart disease, severe liver injury (AST or ALT more than 3 times the normal value), liver cirrhosis and severe renal insufficiency (creatinine\>177 μmol/L) were observed 15. Major surgical operations within 30 days or in the next 90 days 16. It is known that patients with dementia, cognitive impairment caused by other reasons or mental diseases cannot complete the assessment of neurological and cognitive functions 17. There are cerebral infarction that clearly involves the key brain areas of cognition, or there are neurological deficits that affect the accuracy of cognitive function assessment, such as severe aphasia, neglect, and audiovisual impairment. According to the judgment of the researchers, the decline of cognitive function is mainly caused by irreversible brain tissue injury 18. The expected survival time of patients with other diseases was less than 2 years 19. Pregnancy or lactation 20. Patients have been included in other studies, which is in conflict with this study
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for Cognitive impairment are added.
By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use
Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
-
The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
-
The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
-
A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Beijing Tiantan Hospital
Beijing, Beijing Municipality, 100010, China
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- AI hunts for early clues to Parkinson's and Alzheimer's progression
- Can early brain training and family coaching boost stroke recovery?
- Can virtual reality from home sharpen social skills in schizophrenia?
- AI tailors brain workouts: a new hope for cognitive decline?
- Brain training may reshape brain chemistry in schizophrenia
- Can a heart drug shield the brain? a trial investigates Vericiguat's potential to slow cognitive decline