The synaptic plasticity in the brain is damaged in the patients with Alzheimer's disease(AD).However，studies have reported that acupuncture and moxibustion can alleviate the cognitive deficit of AD by restoring synaptic plasticity.This article reviewed the mechanism of acupuncture and moxibustion in the prevention and treatment of AD from synaptic function and structure，neurotransmitter，and proteins and signaling pathways associated with synaptic plasticity.