Evaluating Electroacupuncture Assessment Strategies for Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Scoping Review
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Objective: This scoping review aimed to identify and analyze the range of assessment tools used in electroacupuncture trials for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and examine emerging trends in study design and evaluation. Methods: In May 2025, seven electronic databases, the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched for clinical reports and protocols on electroacupuncture for MCI. Studies were screened for participant characteristics, intervention protocols, comparators, and outcome measures. Results: Seventeen reports and three protocols were reviewed. The Mini-Mental State Examination and Montreal Cognitive Assessment were the most frequently used tools. Recent studies incorporated broader neuropsychological batteries, daily functioning, quality of life, emotional state, and brain activity assessments. Electroacupuncture most often targeted GV20, EX-HN1, and GV24, with 30-min sessions across 24 treatments. Controls included pharmacological treatments, sham electroacupuncture, and cognitive rehabilitation. Conclusions: Electroacupuncture appears to be a promising intervention for mild cognitive impairment, particularly the amnestic subtype. However, considerable heterogeneity in outcome measures and protocol design underscores the need for standardized core outcome sets that incorporate cognitive, functional, emotional, and biological domains. Future research should also adopt rigorous sham controls, develop standardized electroacupuncture treatment protocols, ensure transparent safety reporting, and explore the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying electroacupuncture effects.
Abstract
Objective: This scoping review aimed to identify and analyze the range of assessment tools used in electroacupuncture trials for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and examine emerging trends in study design and evaluation. Methods: In May 2025, seven electronic databases, the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched for clinical reports and protocols on electroacupuncture for MCI. Studies were screened for participant characteristics, intervention protocols, comparators, and outcome measures. Results: Seventeen reports and three protocols were reviewed. The Mini-Mental State Examination and Montreal Cognitive Assessment were the most frequently used tools. Recent studies incorporated broader neuropsychological batteries, daily functioning, quality of life, emotional state, and brain activity assessments. Electroacupuncture most often targeted GV20, EX-HN1, and GV24, with 30-min sessions across 24 treatments. Controls included pharmacological treatments, sham electroacupuncture, and cognitive rehabilitation. Conclusions: Electroacupuncture appears to be a promising intervention for mild cognitive impairment, particularly the amnestic subtype. However, considerable heterogeneity in outcome measures and protocol design underscores the need for standardized core outcome sets that incorporate cognitive, functional, emotional, and biological domains. Future research should also adopt rigorous sham controls, develop standardized electroacupuncture treatment protocols, ensure transparent safety reporting, and explore the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying electroacupuncture effects.