Therapeutic efficacy observation on electroacupuncture for Alzheimer’s disease

Abstract

Objective

To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) for Alzheimer’s disease (AD).

Methods

A total of 30 eligible cases were treated by needling Shenting (GV 24), Baihui (GV 20), Dazhui (GV 14), Fengfu (GV 16), Mingmen (GV 1) and Yongquan (KI 1). Upon arrival of qi, the G6805-II electric stimulator was connected to Shenting (GV 24) and Baihui (GV 20) (one pair), to Dazhui (GV 14) and Fengfu (GV 16) (one pair) and to bilateral Yongquan (KI 1) (one pair) for 25 min, using continuous wave at the frequency of 2-100 Hz and voltage of 2-4 V. With a tolerable intensity, the EA was conducted once a day for 10 d (one treatment course). There was a 3-day interval between two courses. After three courses, the therapeutic efficacies were evaluated using the mini-mental state examination (MMSE), revised Hasegawa dementia scale (HDS-R), activities of daily living (ADL) and neurological function defect scale (NFDS).

Results

After EA treatment, the MMSE and HDS-R scores were significantly increased (P<0.01) and the ADL and NFDS scores were significantly decreased (P<0.01).

Conclusion

EA is effective for AD and can improve the overall intelligence and repair neurologic deficits in AD patients.

摘要

目的

观察电针治疗阿尔茨海默病(Alzheimer’s disease, AD)的疗效。

方法

共纳入30 例患者, 予以针刺神庭、百会、大椎、风府、命门和涌泉治疗。得气后, 神庭、百会为一组, 大椎、风府为一组, 双侧涌泉为一组,连接G6805-II型电针治疗仪, 施以连续波, 频率2-100 Hz, 电压2-4 V, 刺激量以患者能够耐受为度, 每次刺激25 min, 每日1 次, 连续10 次为1 疗程, 疗程间间隔3 天, 治疗3 个疗程后用简易精神状态检查量表(mini-mentalstate examination, MMSE)、修订后的长谷川智能量表(revised Hasegawa dementia scale, HDS-R)、日常生活能力(activities of daily living, ADL)量表、临床神经功能缺损量表(neurological function defect scale, NFDS)评价疗效。

结果

电针治疗后MMSE 和HDS-R 评分较治疗前有显著升高(P<0.01); ADL 和NFDS 评分较治疗前有显著下降(P<0.01)。

结论

电针是治疗AD 的有效方法, 能有效提高AD 患者总体智能和修复神经功能缺损。