Neck surgery may help clear Alzheimer's toxins from the brain
NCT ID NCT07669272
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tests a one-time microsurgery that connects lymphatic vessels in the neck to veins, aiming to improve drainage of waste proteins from the brain. Fifty-nine people with severe Alzheimer's will receive the surgery plus standard medication. Researchers will measure changes in cognitive function and brain scans over 12 months to see if the procedure is safe and effective.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Deep Cervical Lymphovenous Anastomosis (a microsurgical procedure to connect lymphatic vessels to neck veins)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could offer a new way to slow cognitive decline in severe Alzheimer's by helping the brain clear toxic proteins.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very early, small study with no control group, so results may not be reliable. Surgery carries risks like infection or anesthesia complications, and the benefit is unproven.
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
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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
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About 59 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Expected to start
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Oct 2026
An estimate. Start dates often move.
- Expected to finish
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Sep 2029
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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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
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50 to 80 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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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: * Meet the 2011 NIA-AA clinical diagnostic criteria for probable Alzheimer's disease dementia and the 2018 NIA-AA research framework biomarker criteria for AD. * Aged 50 to 80 years (inclusive) at the time of signing informed consent. * Severe cognitive dysfunction: Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score \< 10 points. * Progressive cognitive deterioration for more than 6 months reported by patient or caregiver. * No clinical improvement after more than 6 months of standardized drug treatment. * Have a designated study companion who signs informed consent, contacts the patient at least 10 hours per week and accompanies study visits. * Able to complete scale assessments and examinations independently or with companion assistance. * Voluntarily comply with study procedures, examinations and surgical treatment. * Patient or legal representative can sign written informed consent and abide by trial requirements. * Patients and families are informed of study purpose, expected efficacy and potential risks, and voluntarily provide biological samples and participate in the study. Exclusion Criteria: * Severe central nervous system diseases (other than AD) that affect cognitive function or study compliance. * Severe/unstable systemic diseases (cardiovascular, hepatic, renal, respiratory, endocrine, hematological, psychiatric diseases); life expectancy less than 24 months. * Surgical contraindications: severe coagulation disorders, severe -cardiopulmonary diseases (myocardial infarction/respiratory failure within recent 30 days); severe liver damage (ALT/AST \> 3 times upper limit of normal); severe renal insufficiency (eGFR \< 30ml/min). * Severe primary mental disorders (other than AD) that interfere with efficacy evaluation and cognitive assessment. * History of intracranial hemorrhage or craniocerebral trauma within recent 1 year. * Alcohol or drug abuse/dependence within recent 1 year. * Allergy to indocyanine green, gadolinium contrast agent, 18F-florbetapir or 18F-flortaucipir. * Contraindications for PET examination. * Other conditions judged by investigators unsuitable for enrollment.
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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.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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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
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The First Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University (Southwest Hospital)
Chongqing, Chongqing Municipality, 400038, China
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