Effects of Acupuncture on Vascular Cognitive Impairment with No Dementia: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Background: Acupuncture has been used for treating vascular cognitive impairment, but evidence for its effectiveness remains limited. Objective: This single-center, patient-accessor blinded, randomized controlled trial was designed to assess whether acupuncture could improve the cognitive function of patients with vascular cognitive impairment with no dementia (VCIND). Methods: 120 VCIND patients were randomly assigned to the electro-acupuncture (EA) or sham acupuncture (SA) group at a 1 : 1 ratio, with treatment conducted thrice weekly for 8 weeks. The primary outcome was the changes of cognitive function measured by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) from baseline to week 8. The secondary outcomes included the scores of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Modified Barthel Index (MBI) and the Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS). Follow-up assessments were performed with MoCA and MMSE at week 16 and 32. Linear mixed-effects models were used for analysis and all statistical tests were two-sided. Results: The results showed that patients in the EA group had a significantly greater improvement in MoCA score (23.85±4.18) than those in the SA group (21.48±4.44) at week 8 (95% CI = 0.80, 3.92, p = 0.04), as well as higher MoCA scores over time (p < 0.001 for interaction). Patients who received EA showed a greater increase in MMSE scores (26.41±3.47) than those who received SA (24.40±3.85) along 8 weeks (95% CI = 0.69, 3.34, p = 0.004). However, results diminished over time. No serious adverse events occurred during the trial. Conclusion: EA is a safe and effective technique to improve cognition over the short term of 8 weeks in VCIND patients.

Acupuncture Interventions for Alzheimer’s Disease and Vascular Cognitive Disorders: A Review of Mechanisms

“…These compatibility rules fully reflect the overall idea of acupuncture in the treatment of VCDs. In a randomized controlled clinical trial on acupuncture treatment of VCD [ 25 ], the researchers selected “Baihui” (GV20), “Yintang” (GV29), “Shenting” (GV24), “Shuigou” (GV26), “Naohu” (GV17), “Sishencong” (EX-HN1), and bilateral “Fengchi” (GB20), “Shenmen” (HT7), and “Sanyinjiao” (SP6) and other points, emphasizing that the Governor Vessel was the only meridian that directly entered the brain; thus, it was closely related to brain function and performed the functions of improving cognition and regulating mind. The combination of head and neck acupoints such as “Baihui” (GV20), “Sishencong” (EX-HN1), and “Fengchi” (GB20) can play a role in clearing the head, opening the body, and waking the mind.…”

Acupuncture for mild cognitive impairment: A systematic review with meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis

“…Acupuncture, part of traditional Chinese medicine, has been widely used as a non-pharmaceutical therapy for various cognitive dysfunctions, including MCI (13), postoperative cognitive impairment (14), vascular cognitive impairment (15), and so on. Numerous systematic reviews/meta-analyses (SRs/MAs) (13,(16)(17)(18) showed that acupuncture is an effective treatment for patients with MCI by improving cognitive function.…”

Increased low frequency fluctuation in the brain after acupuncture treatment in CSVDCI patients: A randomized control trial study

“…The main advantage of acupuncture is the lower incidence of adverse effects that characterize pharmaceutical approaches (NIH Consensus Conference, 1998;Kim et al, 2019). Importantly, clinical randomized trials demonstrated the short-term impact of acupuncture on cognitive function in VCI patients Yang et al, 2019;Huang et al, 2021).…”