针灸防治血管性痴呆研究进展

Research Progress of Acupuncture in the Prevention and Treatment of Vascular Dementia

血管性痴呆是一种由缺血或出血性脑血管疾病而引起的以学习记忆能力下降、情感障碍等认知障碍为主要表现的临床综合征,发生率仅次于阿尔茨海默症,同时是目前唯一有可能预防的痴呆类型。虽然目前血管性痴呆的发病机制并未完全阐明,但研究证实胆碱能通路受损、氧化应激反应、炎性反应和神经细胞凋亡等多种机制参与了血管性痴呆的发病,而针灸能够通过调节胆碱能系统神经递质、减轻氧化应激反应和炎性反应、抑制神经细胞凋亡、调节突触可塑性等机制改善血管性痴呆患者学习记忆能力,提高患者日常生活质量。文章就血管性痴呆的发病机制和近年来针灸治疗血管性痴呆的动物实验研究和临床研究展开综述,并提出了目前研究中存在的不足之处,为针灸防治血管性痴呆的临床应用推广提供参考。

Vascular dementia is a clinical syndrome caused by ischemic or hemorrhagic cerebrovascular disease,characterized by cognitive impairment such as decreased learning and memory abilities and emotional disorders.Its incidence is second only to Alzheimer's disease,and it is currently the only type of dementia that may be prevented.Although the pathogenesis of vascular dementia has not been fully clarified at present,studies have confirmed that multiple mechanisms,such as impairment of cholinergic pathway,oxidative stress reaction,inflammatory reaction and neuronal apoptosis,are involved in the pathogenesis of vascular dementia,and acupuncture and moxibustion can regulate the neurotransmitters of cholinergic system,reduce oxidative stress reaction and inflammatory reaction,inhibit neuronal apoptosis mechanisms such as regulating synaptic plasticity can improve the learning and memory abilities of patients with vascular dementia and improve their quality of daily life.This article reviews the pathogenesis of vascular dementia and the animal experimental and clinical studies on acupuncture and moxibustion treatment of vascular dementia in recent years,and puts forward the shortcomings of the current research,which provides a reference for the clinical application and promotion of acupuncture and moxibustion treatment of vascular dementia.