IL6 and brain ischemia: Studies have shown that pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β and IL-6 maintain a chronic neuroinflammatory state, manifested by cognitive impairment.[38] The levels of inflammatory biomarkers in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid of patients with VCI are changed, indicating that neuroinflammation is involved in the pathogenesis of VCI.[39] In this study, the levels of IL-1β and IL-6 decreased in the acupuncture group after treatment, indicating that acupuncture regulates neuroinflammation by alleviating cerebral ischemia and hypoxia and activating immune cells.