Clinical trial Recruiting at 1 site Interventional Ages 18 to 80

Remote ischemic conditioning for post-stroke insomnia

Official title: The Role and Mechanism of Adenosine A2A Receptor-Mediated Neuroinflammation in the Alleviation of Post-Stroke Sleep Disorders by Remote Ischemic Conditioning

Run by Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences · NCT07874594 · Data updated 2026-11-12

A 136-person, randomized study will test whether a non-invasive arm-cuff procedure done twice daily for 90 days can improve sleep after a first ischemic stroke in adults 18–80.

Quick facts

Study typeInterventional
Ages18 Years to 80 Years
SexAll
Enrollment136 (estimated)
SponsorSichuan Academy of Medical Sciences
Academic / other
Locations1 site (Chengdu, Sichuan)
StatusRecruiting
StartedSeptember 1, 2026
Main results expectedDecember 31, 2028
Study endsDecember 31, 2029
Registry record updatedOctober 15, 2026
Trial IDNCT07874594 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Adults aged 18–80 who had a first ischemic stroke 3–6 months ago, are right-handed, have mRS ≤3, and report insomnia (PSQI >5).

Probably not a fit

Patients without insomnia, with other sleep disorders, or with conditions that exclude sleep-modifying meds or severe comorbidity may not benefit.

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This is a single-center, prospective, randomized, double‑blind, sham‑controlled trial. Participants with insomnia after a first ischemic stroke 3–6 months earlier are assigned to remote ischemic conditioning (RIC) or a sham control, delivered via arm cuffs at 200 mmHg vs 60 mmHg for 45 minutes per session, twice daily for 90 days. The study will look at sleep quality using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) at 90 days as the primary outcome, with secondary measures relating to sleep and potential mechanisms involving adenosine A2A receptors and neuroinflammation. Eligible adults are right-handed, 18–80, with mRS ≤3 and PSQI >5; several sleep-related or medical exclusions apply. The trial is led by Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences in Chengdu, with no listed collaborators.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could provide a non-pharmacologic option to improve sleep after stroke.

How similar studies have gone: Prior research in neuromodulation and non-invasive conditioning has shown signals of potential benefit in related conditions, but this exact approach for post-stroke insomnia is exploratory.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Age 18 to 80 years.
* Right-handed.
* First-ever stroke, with imaging-confirmed ischemic cerebral infarction.
* Receiving routine treatment for ischemic stroke.
* Time since stroke onset: 3 months ≤ onset time ≤ 6 months.
* Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score ≤3.
* Presence of insomnia complaints, defined as Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score \>5.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Diagnosis of chronic insomnia within 3 months before stroke onset, or a history of other sleep disorders.
* Presence of significant manifestations of sleep apnea.
* Concomitant other neuropsychiatric disorders.
* Concomitant severe somatic diseases, such as acute illness or infectious diseases.
* Use of medications that affect sleep within 2 weeks before enrollment.
* History of shift work or jet lag within 4 months before enrollment, or planned shift work or jet lag within 3 months after enrollment.
* Pregnant or breastfeeding women.
* History of alcohol abuse or psychoactive substance use within the past year.
* Inability to complete CT, MRI, or other imaging examinations.
* Body mass index (BMI) ≥35 kg/m².
* Current participation in another clinical trial.
* Dementia, aphasia, or other conditions that, in the investigator's opinion, make the participant unsuitable for enrollment.

Where it's running

  • Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital
    Chengdu, Sichuan, China
    Recruiting

Study contacts

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

  • Chaihushugan Decoction vs Wen Dan Tang for Chronic Insomnia

    This trial tests two traditional Chinese medicine formulas to see if one helps adults with chronic insomnia more than the other over 8 weeks.

    Recruiting Tainan Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare · Tainan · NCT07735390

  • Internet-based therapy for insomnia and cognitive health

    This study is testing whether an online therapy for insomnia can help improve sleep and thinking skills in people with mild cognitive impairment.

    Recruiting Phase 2 University of Virginia · Charlottesville, Virginia · NCT05565833

  • SleepCogni for children with chronic insomnia

    A handheld SleepCogni device is tested to see if it helps kids aged 6–16 with chronic insomnia sleep better.

    Recruiting Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust · Sheffield · NCT07926724

  • AI-based tools to help diagnose, treat and predict stroke outcomes across multiple hospitals

    This study tests AI-powered tools on real-world stroke patients to see if they can improve pre-hospital triage, diagnosis, and outcome prediction while data stay securely within each hospital.

    Recruiting at 2 sites Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron Research Institute · Leuven and 6 other locations · NCT07924371

  • Music therapy after stroke

    This trial tests whether adding music therapy to standard care helps stroke patients sleep better and feel less anxious or depressed while in the hospital.

    Recruiting Universidad de Granada · Granada, Granada · NCT07899034

  • Ear-based nerve stimulation to help sleep after a stroke

    A device that delivers vagal nerve stimulation through the ear is tested to see if it helps stroke patients in rehab sleep better.

    Recruiting Casa Colina Hospital and Centers for Healthcare · Pomona, California · NCT07858656

How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.