Research progress on the mechanism of scalp acupuncture in regulating inflammatory response for vascular cognitive impairment

Vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) is a cognitive impairment syndrome with cerebrovascular disease and its risk factors as the core cause. In recent years, the application of scalp acupuncture in the treatment of VCI has received extensive attention. This article focuses on the mechanism of scalp acupuncture in the treatment of VCI, and systematically summarizes its regulation of pro-inflammatory signaling pathways, inhibition of excessive activation and polarization of microglia, regulation of astrocyte function, activation of cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathways, protection of blood-brain barrier integrity, and balance of neuro-endocrine-immune networks, thereby inhibiting excessive inflammatory response and improving cognitive function. Furthermore, it elaborates on the key role of scalp acupuncture in alleviating neural damage and delaying the progression of VCI, providing a scientific basis and reference for further investigation of its anti-inflammatory mechanism and clinical application.