SynthesisSystematic reviews2026
Acupuncture for vascular mild cognitive impairment: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Synthesis in Systematic reviews, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Effectiveness of acupuncture combined with medication for mild cognitive impairment: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol.Systematic reviews · 2026Pooled it
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
8 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundVascular mild cognitive impairment (VMCI) is a potentially transitional state between normal aging and vascular dementia. The presence of macroscopic white matter lesions (WML) of moderate or severe extension on brain MRI is the hallmark of the vascular mild cognitive impairment.
objectiveTo assess the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for vascular mild cognitive impairment.
methodsSix electronic databases and two clinical trial websites were searched for randomized controlled trials which investigated the effects of acupuncture compared with sham acupuncture, drugs or usual care (such as cognitive rehabilitation). Studies comparing acupuncture combined with other therapies with this therapy alone for VMCI were also included. The quality of the trials selected was evaluated according to the Cochrane 'risk of bias' tool. RevMan V.5.4 software was employed for data analysis. Risk ratio (RR) or mean difference (MD) and their 95% confidence interval (CI) were used for a dichotomous or continuous variable, respectively.
resultsForty-nine trials with 3555 participants were included, with the exception of one trial judged to have a low risk of bias, 43 trials were all judged to have some concerns or a high risk of bias. Meta-analysis showed superior effect of acupuncture as add-on treatment to usual care on increasing the MMSE scores (MD 2.15, 95% CI 1.61 to 2.69, 7 trials, 536 participants, I
conclusionsAcupuncture seems to be a promising treatment for vascular cognitive impairment to slow the progression of the disease and improve cognitive function. However, evidence is limited due to heterogeneity and the small number of included trials. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42022382245.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.