title: Mechanisms of acupuncture on vascular dementia-A review of animal studies.
abstract: Vascular dementia (VaD) is the second leading type of dementia after Alzheimer's disease plaguing the aging population. Acupuncture has served as alternative and complementary medicine in the world for a long time and its use for VaD is based on a large body of preclinical and clinical researches. The mechanisms that underlie the protective effects of acupuncture are slowly beginning to be understood. Acupuncture influences multiple aspects of the pathological process of VaD. It improves cognitive function through protecting cerebral neurons from oxidative stress, apoptosis, and neuroinflammation, regulating glucose metabolism and neurotransmitters. Acupuncture may also improve synaptic plasticity and blood vessel function. It is likely that no single factor can explain the protection provided by acupuncture. This review provides a comprehensive overview of established and recent findings in animal-based researches aiming to elucidate the complex mechanisms of acupuncture on VaD.
authors.affiliation: Acupuncture and Moxibustion Department, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Capital Medical University, 23 Meishuguanhou Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing, China; Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, 11 Beisanhuan East Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.affiliation: Acupuncture and Moxibustion Department, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Capital Medical University, 23 Meishuguanhou Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Wen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Acupuncture and Moxibustion Department, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Capital Medical University, 23 Meishuguanhou Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Xue-Rui
authors.initials: XR
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Acupuncture and Moxibustion Department, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Capital Medical University, 23 Meishuguanhou Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Jing-Wen
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, 11 Beisanhuan East Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Ling-Yong
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.affiliation: Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 312 Anshanxidao Street, Nankai District, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 312 Anshanxidao Street, Nankai District, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Acupuncture and Moxibustion Department, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Capital Medical University, 23 Meishuguanhou Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing, China. Electronic address: lcz623780@126.com.
authors.forename: Cun-Zhi
authors.initials: CZ
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D015140:Dementia, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology
keywords: Acupuncture; Animal studies; Mechanisms; Vascular dementia