Feasibility and Effect of Electroacupuncture on Cognitive Function Domains in Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Pilot Exploratory Randomized Controlled Trial

Although Electroacupuncture (EA) has been reported to be potentially effective for cognitive disorders, there is limited information about which domains of cognitive function can be improved by EA treatment. Sixty patients with MCI were randomly assigned (1:1:1) to groups to receive 24 sessions over 12 weeks of EA, sham EA, or usual care. In the EA group, electric stimulation was applied at bilateral PC6 and HT7. Various cognitive tests included in the Seoul Neuropsychological Screening Battery II (SNSB-II) were performed at baseline and post-treatment to explore effects of EA on five cognitive domains: attention, language, visuospatial function, memory, and frontal/executive function. Among 60 randomized participants (63.7 ± 7.1 years, 89.7% females), 45 (75%) completed the study. Of the five cognitive function domains of SNSB-II, the T score of visuospatial function showed a tendency to be higher in the EA group than in the usual care group at post-treatment assessment (mean difference: 10.16 (95% CI, 1.14, 19.18), Cohen’s d = 0.72, p = 0.0283). According to the results of this pilot study, the estimated effect size of EA on the visuospatial function of MCI patients compared to usual care was medium. Large-scale clinical trials are needed to confirm effects of EA on cognitive functions.