Electroacupuncture improves hypoxic stress and energy metabolism to alleviate vascular cognitive impairment through activation of the HIF-1α/p53/NGB signaling pathway in rats.

Key Points

• The research aims to investigate how electroacupuncture affects cognitive dysfunction by alleviating hypoxic stress and enhancing energy metabolism in rats.
• Applied electroacupuncture treatment to BCCAO-induced rats
• Assessed neurological impairment and cognitive function
• Analyzed changes in hypoxic stress markers and energy metabolism
• Examined the activation of the HIF-1α/p53/NGB signaling pathway
• EA significantly reduced neurological impairment and cognitive dysfunction in treated rats
• Improved energy metabolism was observed in the cortex and hippocampus
• Activation of the HIF-1α/p53/NGB pathway was confirmed post-treatment