[Meta-analysis on acupuncture for treatment of dementia].
OBJECTIVE
To assess the therapeutic effect of acupuncture on dementia.


METHODS
The literatures of acupuncture for treatment of dementia are comprehensively searched in according with the demands of the evidence-based medicine (EBM), which are collected from relevant domestic medical literature databases in the last ten years. Meta-analysis is conducted on the literatures enrolled.


RESULTS
Twenty-two randomized controlled trials are included, among them, 19 trials are carried out by Meta-analysis. The total OR is 3.72 [2.73, 5.07], and the funnel plot is approximately symmetry. It is indicated that the curative effect of acupuncture groups is better than the control groups (Z = 8.32, P < 0.00001).


CONCLUSIONS
Acupuncture therapy is effective on dementia according to the domestic clinical literatures. However, the quality of the studies needs further improving and increasing.
Guo
Xiao-Xi
XX
Institute of Acupuncture and Massage, Liaoning University of TCM, Shenyang 110032, China.
Jin
Hong-Shu
HS
Huo
Li
L
Zheng
Jie
J
Zhou
Xiao-Mi
XM
D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000368:Aged; D003704:Dementia / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic