The therapeutic effect of Xueshuan Xinmai tablets on memory injury and brain activity in post-stroke patients: a pilot placebo controlled fMRI study

Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of Xueshuan Xinmai tablets (XXMT) for the treatment of cognition, brain activation in the rehabilitation period of ischemic stroke patients. Methods: 28 adults patients, aged 50-80 years, in the rehabilitation period of ischemic stroke were divided into XXMT treatment group and placebo control group. Patients received 3 months treatment (oral 0.8 g, 3 times per day). Before and after treatment, all patients were evaluated by a series of neuropsychological tests followed by resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Results: In the XXMT treatment group, the patients’ episodic memory showed significant improvement. The resting-state fMRI analysis indicated that a significant decline in the fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation value was observed in the bilateral middle cingulate gyrus. Conclusions: Yiqi Huoxue effect under XXMT administration has a favorable mediation on episodic memory, consequently suppresses the activation of the cingulate gyrus in the rehabilitation period of ischemic stroke patients.