Effect of Long-Term Head and Neck Venous Outflow Obstruction on Cognitive Function: Evidence From Patients With Internal Jugular Vein Stenosis

What this study involves

The registry does not currently label this study as recruiting. Ask about its status before planning a screening visit.

Study type

Observational

Phase

Not applicable / not listed

Age range

18 years - 65 years

Sex eligible

All sexes

Healthy volunteers

Accepted

Participants

72 Estimated

These are starting points, not an eligibility decision. The research team must review the full requirements.

About the research

This study aims to determine the effect of long-term head and neck venous outflow obstruction-specifically internal jugular vein stenosis (IJVS) caused by atlas transverse process compression with a stenosis rate ≥50%-on cognitive function, and to observe the cognitive outcomes of atlas transverse process resection combined with release and perfusion technique in routine clinical care. The study uses a case-control design to compare cognitive function between patients with IJVS and matched healthy controls, and a prospective cohort design to follow surgical and non-surgical cohorts for 6 months. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) total score is the primary cognitive measure. The target population per the protocol summary is image-confirmed IJVS due to atlas transverse process compression (stenosis ≥50%), with mild-to-moderate cognitive impairment (MoCA \<26), aged 18-65 years.

Who may be able to participate?

The list below is the sponsor’s full registry wording. It can include conditions, prior treatment, test results and other requirements. A match in search does not mean you qualify.

Inclusion Criteria:

Cohort study (surgical cohort / non-surgical cohort):

Age 18-65 years, either sex. Confirmed by head and neck CT venography (CTV), MR venography (MRV), and jugular vein ultrasound as extrinsic IJVS caused by atlas transverse process compression, with a stenosis rate ≥50%.

Voluntary participation and signed written informed consent. Able to cooperate with MoCA cognitive assessment and related examinations at all scheduled time points.

No severe hepatic or renal insufficiency, coagulation disorders, or other severe underlying diseases.

Surgical cohort: no surgical contraindication and willingness to undergo atlas transverse process resection combined with release and perfusion technique. Non-surgical cohort: willingness to receive conservative treatment without surgery and no urgent surgical indication during follow-up.

Case-control study-case group:

Clinically confirmed IJVS with disease duration ≥6 months. CTV-confirmed IJVS caused by atlas transverse process compression. No history of previous cerebral infarction, intracranial hemorrhage, Alzheimer's disease, or other known causes of cognitive decline.

Complete baseline clinical and imaging data available.

Case-control study-healthy control group:

Age-, sex-, and education-matched individuals without IJVS, without head and neck venous outflow obstruction, and without severe organic disease or a history of cognitive impairment.

Exclusion Criteria

Cohort study:

Cognitive impairment caused by another definite etiology (e.g., Alzheimer's disease, cerebral infarction, cerebral hemorrhage, hypothyroidism).

Severe psychiatric disease preventing cooperation with cognitive assessment and study procedures.

Neck surgery, radiotherapy, or internal jugular vein intervention within the previous 3 months.

Pregnancy or breastfeeding. Malignant tumor, autoimmune disease, or other condition with an expected survival of less than 1 year.

Long-term use of sedative-hypnotics or cognitive-enhancing drugs that may affect MoCA assessment.

Refusal to participate in follow-up or inability to complete all scheduled assessments.

Case-control study:

Other imaging-detected venous abnormalities, such as venous sinus stenosis or jugular vein reflux, or the styloid process identified as the main compressive structure causing IJVS.

Severe heart failure or other major cardiac dysfunction. Severe hearing impairment or other conditions that may affect the validity or completion of cognitive assessment.

Intrathoracic or intracranial space-occupying lesions, cerebral vascular malformations, or other abnormalities on high-resolution chest CT, brain MRI, or CT that may constitute a major hemodynamic obstruction.

Study population

Surgical cohort Procedure (routine clinical care, not a study intervention) Patients undergo atlas transverse process resection combined with release and perfusion technique according to clinical indications. The procedure aims to relieve bony compression of the internal jugular vein by the atlas transverse process. Postoperative follow-up is performed according to routine care. The study does not alter surgical indications or the operative procedure; it only observes changes in MoCA scores and imaging-based venous outflow indicators at 1, 3, and 6 months after surgery.

Healthy control group (case-control component) Observational comparator group Age-, sex-, and education-matched individuals without IJVS or head and neck venous outflow obstruction, matched 1:1 to the case group.

Treatment, groups and participation

The registry may describe treatments and study duration without a complete visit calendar. Ask the study team for the exact schedule, procedures, risks, costs and alternatives. Keep your usual care plan unless your treating clinician tells you otherwise.

Assignment

Not reported

Masking

Not reported

What researchers are measuring

Outcome measures describe what is being studied. They are not proof that a treatment works.

Primary measures

Secondary measures

Research locations (0)

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No locations are listed. Use the official study contact.

Study team and timeline

Lead sponsor

Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University

Study start

Nov 10, 2026 Estimated

Primary completion

Jul 30, 2028 Estimated

Study completion

Dec 1, 2028 Estimated

First posted

Nov 10, 2026 Actual

Last updated

Nov 10, 2026 Actual

Official study contacts