[Clinically multi-central randomized controlled study on scalp electroacupuncture for treatment of vascular dementia].
OBJECTIVE
To provide reliable evidence for acupuncture treatment of vascular dementia (VD).


METHODS
Multi-central randomized controlled trial method was adopted and 270 cases enrolled were randomly assigned to an acupuncture-medicine group, an electroacupuncture group and a medication group. The acupuncture-medicine group were treated by scalp electroacupuncture on Sishencong (EX-HN 1), Baihui (GV 20), Shenting (GV 24), Fengchi (GB 20) and oral administration of Nimodipine; the electroacupuncture group were treated with scalp electroacupuncture; the medication group were treated with simple oral administration of Nimodipine. They were treated for 6 weeks. Mini-mental state scale (MMSE), ability of daily life-rating scale (ADL-R) and P300 were detected before and after treatment.


RESULTS
The total effective rate for cognition improvement was 86.59% in the acupuncture-medicine group, 82.05% in the electroacupuncture group and 43.21% in the medication group, the electroacupuncture group and the acupuncture-medicine group being better than the medication group; and their total effective rates for improvement of ability of daily life were 59.76%, 65.38% and 32.10%, respectively, the electroacupuncture group and the acupuncture-medicine group being better than the medication group. Scores for MMSE and ADL-R and P300 examination indicated that there were significant differences as the acupuncture-medicine group and the electroacupuncture group compared with the medication group (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Scalp electroacupuncture or scalp electroacupuncture combined with oral administration of Nimodipine has a better therapeutic effect in improvement of recognition function and the ability of life activity than simple oral administration of Nimodipine with a higher safety.
Zhang
Hong
H
Acupuncture and Massage College, Chengdu University of TCM, Chengdu, Sichuan 610075, China. hzhang0123@sina.com
Zhao
Ling
L
He
Cheng-Qi
CQ
Hu
Ka-Ming
KM
Liu
Jun
J
D015669:Acupuncture Points; D000368:Aged; D015140:Dementia, Vascular / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009553:Nimodipine / Q000627:therapeutic use
D009553:Nimodipine