acupuncture method for mild cognitive impairment: a randomized controlled trial.
10.13703/j.0255-2930.2019.11.001
- Author:
Yue-Qi CHEN
1
;
Huan-Gan WU
2
;
Ping YIN
1
;
Jian XU
1
;
En-Ting HUANG
1
;
Shi-Fen XU
1
Author Information
1. Shanghai Hospital of TCM Affiliated to Shanghai University of TCM, Shanghai 200071, China.
2. Shanghai Institute of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Meridian.
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE);
Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale (MoCA);
acupuncture;
cognitive impairment;
randomized controlled trial (RCT)
- MeSH:
Acupuncture Points;
Acupuncture Therapy;
Aged;
Cognitive Dysfunction;
therapy;
Female;
Humans;
Male;
Mental Status and Dementia Tests;
Treatment Outcome
- From:
Chinese Acupuncture & Moxibustion
2019;39(11):1141-1145
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE:To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture method for mild cognitive impairment in the elderly.
METHODS:A total of 96 patients were randomly divided into an observation group, a control group and a waiting group, 32 cases in each group. The patients in the observation group were treated with acupuncture at Baihui (GV 20), Shenting (GV 24), Yintang (GV 29) and Sishencong (EX-HN 1), etc, while the patients in the control group were treated with nonpenetrating sham acupuncture at the same acupoints as the observation group. The treatment was given once every other day, three times a week for 8 weeks. The patients in the waiting group only received health guidance for 8 weeks. Montreal cognitive assessment scale (MoCA) and mini-mental state examination (MMSE) were used before and after 8-week treatment in all three groups. The observation group and the control group were followed up for 2 months and evaluated with MoCA and MMSE.
RESULTS:The MoCA scores in the observation group after treatment and during follow-up were higher than before treatment (<0.01), but there was no significant difference between follow-up and after treatment (>0.05). The MoCA scores in the control group after treatment and during follow-up were higher than before treatment (<0.01, <0.05), and the MoCA score during follow-up was lower than after treatment (<0.01). There was no significant difference before and after treatment in the waiting group (>0.05). The difference before and after treatment in the observation group was higher than the control group and waiting group (<0.01), while that in the control group was higher than the waiting group (<0.01). The difference between follow-up and before treatment in the observation group was higher than the control group (<0.01), and the improving between follow-up and after treatment was superior to the control group (<0.01). The MMSE scores after treatment and during follow-up were higher than before treatment in the observation group (<0.01), but there was no significant difference between the follow-up and after treatment (>0.05). The MMSE scores after treatment and during follow-up were higher than before treatment in the control group (<0.01), and the MMSE score during follow-up was lower than after treatment (<0.01). There was no significant difference before and after treatment in the waiting group (>0.05). The difference before and after treatment the observation group and control group was not significant (>0.05), and those in the two groups were higher than the waiting group (<0.01). The difference between follow-up and before treatment in the observation group was higher than the control group (<0.01), and the difference between follow-up and after treatment was lower than the control group (<0.01).
CONCLUSION: acupuncture method could improve cognitive impairment in elderly patients with mild cognitive impairment.
