Objective To observe the cognitive-improving effect of acupuncture for Yiqi Tiaoxue（replenishing qi and regulating blood）and Fuben Peiyuan（reinforcing the anti-pathogenic qi and consolidating the body resistance）on multiple infarction dementia（MID）model rat.Methods The embolic suspension was injected to induce multiple infarct dementia.The male Wistar rats were randomized into the normal group

sham operation group

model group

acupuncture group

and sham acupuncture group

with 15 in each.The acupuncture group was treated with acupuncture at Shanzhong（CV 17）

Zhongwan（CV 12）

Qihai（CV 6）

Xuehai（SP 10）

and Zusanli（ST 36）.The sham acupuncture group was treated with acupuncture at the two non-acupoints in the bilateral hypochondrium.The treatment was once a day for 6 days in succession and 1 day for rest as interval

3 weeks in total.The learning and memory function of model rats was tested with Morris water maze.The expression of glucose transporter 1（GLUT-1）in the cortex and hippocampus CA1

CA3

and DG areas was detected by immunohistochemical method.Results The learning and memory ability of MID rats was obviously impaired（P<0.05）.Compared with the model group and sham acupuncture group

the acupuncture group spent less time in finding the platform（P<0.05 or P<0.051）

the number of jumping through the original platform and the staying time on the original platform were significantly increased（P<0.05）.The expression of GLUT-1 in the model group was significantly increased than that in the normal group and sham operation group（P<0.05）.Except in the cortex

the expression of GLUT-1 in the hippocampus CA1

CA3

and DG areas of the acupuncture group was significantly different from that of the model group and sham acupuncture group（P<0.05）.Conclusion The acupuncture for Yiqi Tiaoxue and Fuben Peiyuan is effective to improve the cognitive function of MID rat through up-regulating the expression of GLUT-1 for promoting the transmembrane transport of glucose so as to enhance the glucose metabolism and relieve the ischemia and hypoxia of the brain tissues of vascular dementia rat.