CHRNA7 and Cognitive impairment: Then, behavioral tests, leptomeningeal microvascular observation, immunofluorescence of basal forebrain neurons, and molecular analyses of the ACh/NO pathway were conducted.<h4>Results</h4>EA stimulation alleviated cognitive impairment in VaD mice, dilated leptomeningeal arterioles, enhanced neuronal activity and acetylcholine expression in the basal forebrain, and increased the levels of m-1AChR, α-7-nAChR, eNOS, and NO in the frontal cortex.