OBJECTIVETo compare the clinical efficacy on vascular cognitive impairment with no dementia (VCIND) between the combined therapy of auricular acupuncture and acupuncture and the simple acupuncture.

METHODSOne hundred patients of VCIND were randomized into a combined therapy of auricular acupuncture and acupuncture group (a combined therapy group) and an acupuncture group, 50 cases in each one. The basic internal medicine treatment was applied in the two groups. Additionally, in the combined therapy group, auricular acupuncture and's three needling therapy were used. pizhixia (AT), xin (CO), shen (CO), gan (CO), erzhong (HX) were selected in auricular acupuncture, once every Monday, Wednesday and Friday;,andwere selected in's three needling therapy, once a day. In the acupuncture group,'s three needling therapy was just provided, once a day. The treatment was given for 4 weeks in the two groups. Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) and social function activities questionnaire (FAQ) were adopted for the evaluation comparison before treatment and in 2 weeks and 4 weeks after treatment in patients of the two groups.

RESULTSCompared with those before treatment, the total scores of MoCA were improved in 2 and 4 weeks after treatment in the two groups (all<0.01). The score in the combined therapy group was improved more apparently as compared with that in the acupuncture group (<0.01). FAQ score was reduced in the two groups (all<0.05). The score in the combined therapy group was reduced more apparently as compared with that in the acupuncture group (<0.05). As compared with the result in 2 weeks of treatment, MoCA score was improved in the two groups in 4 weeks of treatment (both<0.01), the improvements in the combined therapygroup were more obvious than those in the acupuncture group (<0.05) and FAQ score was reduced in the two groups (<0.05), but the difference was not significant between the two groups (>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe combined therapy of auricular acupuncture and acupuncture effectively improve the cognitive function and social function, which are better than the effects of simple acupuncture in VCIND. The improvement of the combined therapy in social function is more advantageous in the treatment of the first two weeks.