轻度认知障碍(MCI) 是阿尔茨海默病的前驱期，具有良好的可逆转性、相对可干预性，属于防治痴呆的关键阶段。默认网络功能连接减退、血流灌注降低和白质纤维损害在MCI的早期发病中具有重要地位，与认知功能密切相关。针刺能够改善痴呆患者的智能状态和生活自理能力，但针刺是否通过调控默认网络改善认知尚不明确。申请人主持的前一国家自然科学基金青年项目（81303122），以慢性低灌注大鼠为模型，从抗氧化角度探讨了针刺的神经保护机制。本项目拟以60例MCI患者为研究对象，30例健康受试者为对照，结合功能磁共振、动脉自旋标记和弥散张量成像，采用多模态神经影像学技术，从默认网络功能连接、血流灌注和白质纤维3个方面，观察6个月针刺治疗对MCI患者默认网络的影响，同时分析与认知状态的相关性，探讨针刺改善认知功能的神经机制，为临床上早期针刺防治痴呆提供科学依据。

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is the precursor stage of Alzheimer's disease, with good reversibility and relative therapeutic. It is the key stage of dementia`s prevention. The abnormal of function connection, cerebral blood flow, and white matter fibers in default mode network (DMN) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of MCI and is closely related to cognitive function. Acupuncture could improve cognitive function and self-care ability, but it is not clear whether the underline mechanism is regulation of default network. In the first national natural science fund project (81303122), we investigate the neuroprotective effect of acupuncture in model of chronic cerebral hypoperfusion from the point of view of antioxidation. This study aims to observe the effect of 6-month acupuncture treatment on functional connections, cerebral blood flow and white matter fiber of default network in 60 mild cognitive impairment patients comparing with 30 healthy subjects, using multimodal neuroimaging technology, which combined functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) with arterial spin labeling (ASL) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Meanwhile, we analyze its correlation with cognitive function to explore the underlying neural mechanism of acupuncture. This could provide scientific basis of acupuncture for the prevention and treatment of dementia in the early stage.