A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial On Treatment Of Mild Cognitive Impairment By Electric Scalp Acupuncture

Objective::To evaluate the therapeutic effects and safety of electric scalp acupuncture in treating mild cognitive impairment (MCI) by early intervention,and provide the reliable evidence of clinical research for acupuncture treatment of mild cognitive impairment.Methods:252 patients with MCI were recruited and randomly assigned to a medication group,an electric scalp acupuncture group and an electric scalp acupuncture with syndrome differentiation group. Points Baihui, Sishenchong, Fengchi, Shenting were selected in the electric scalp acupuncture group. Another for electric scalpacupuncture with syndrome differentiation group, selection of points was on the basis of syndrome differentiation according the scale for the differentiation of syndromes of vascular dementia. The medication group was orally given nimodipine.4 weeks as a course,2 courses in all.Changes of scores of mini-mental state examinations (MMSE), image recognition and clock-drawing task before and after 1 treatment course and 2 treatment courses, were investigated in the 3 groups. In addition, the changes of scores of mini-mental state examinations (MMSE) was observed at the time of 1,3 and 6 months after treatment.Results:After 2 treatment courses, the scores of mini-mental state examinations and clock-drawing task were significantly changed (P<0.01, P<0.05)in the 3 groups; the scores of image recognition were higher(P<0.01)after treatment than before treatment in the electric scalp acupuncture group and the electric scalp acupuncture with syndrome differentiation group, but with no significant difference (P>0.05) in the medication group.Compared with the medication group,there were statistically significant difference (P<0.01) of the therapeutic effects in the electric scalp acupuncture group and the electric scalp acupuncture with syndrome differentiation group. And no statistically significant difference (P>0.05) of the therapeutic effects between the electric scalp acupuncture group and the electric scalp acupuncture with syndrome differentiation group. The scores of mini-mental state examinations of the medication group decreased by degrees with the passage of time after treatment,and the scores of the electric scalp acupuncture or with syndrome differentiation group could last for long time and became constant after treatment.Conclusion:Comprehensive cognitive function in patients with MCI can be improved by the nimodipine and the electric scalp acupuncture or with syndrome differentiation. The electric scalp acupuncture or with syndrome differentiation has a better therapeutic effect than nimodipine on MCI,and the therapeutic effects of the electric scalp acupuncture or with syndrome differentiation are more stable;but the electric scalp acupuncture has the same therapeutic effect on MCI with the electric scalp acupuncture with syndrome differentiation.