To assess the effectiveness of acupressure for treating body pain in patients suffering from vascular dementia. Methods:In this randomized controlled study, 60 patients with vascular dementia also suffered from musculoskeletal pain in any part of the body were recruited from the Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion of Beijing Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital from 2011 to 2015. Participants were randomly allocated to the acupressure alone or medication group to receive daily local AShi point acupressure for 30 minutes or to receive p.r.n Ibuprofen sustained release capsule, respectively. Either treatment was provided daily for 12 weeks. The primary outcome measures included the changes of the scores of Faces Pain Scale-Revised (FPS-R) and Chinese Pain Assessment in Advanced Dementia Scale (C-PAINAD). The secondary outcome measures were Barthel Index and adverse effects. Results:The two groups were comparable at baseline in their demographic data as well as their severity of pain and dementia. Compared with pre-treatment, the scores of FPS-R and C-PAINAD in two groups were significantly decreased after the treatment. The two groups differed in their pain reduction with pain scores in the acupressure group being significantly higher than those in the medication group in the 1st and 2nd treatment week (P<0.01), then significantly lower than those in the medication group in the 4th, 6th, 8th, 10th and 12th treatment week (P<0.01). Similarity, the Barthel Index increased in both groups over time with the scores in the acupressure group being statistically significantly higher than that in the medication group in the 1st, 6th, 8th, 10th and 12th treatment week (P<0.01). Two patients with gastrointestinal symptoms were observed in the medication group. No adverse event was reported in the acupressure group. Conclusion:Ibuprofen sustained release capsule relieved pain more quickly in the first two weeks. The analgesia of acupressure is more effective within the following 10 weeks, and acupressure is safe and can be easily accepted by family carers. Quality of life in those patients improves in both groups as pain reduced.