A lot of people wonder if acupuncture can treat dementia. That question came to mind when my wife was reading from a web site with interest in Chinese culture. You likely know that acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medical art involving puncturing specific points in the body with thin needles to achieve objectives in health and well being. You may also know that there has been a lot of Western interest in it in recent years.
And, it turns out, there have been a number of investigations regarding whether acupuncture can treat cognitive impairment. What did they find?
Different studies had different results, and the quality of the studies was not high. These were the findings of an overview of systematic reviews of the topic. The research was published in the European Journal of Integrative Medicine. They concluded, "Acupuncture showed potential therapeutic effects for patients with dementia, but the quality of the evidence was not high. Higher-quality randomized controlled trials are warranted to confirm the clinical effects of acupuncture in the treatment of dementia."
Here's another article on the subject from Medical News Today. They cite a study concluding, "Acupuncture appears to be effective for the mild cognitive impairment that is a precursor for dementia, when used as an alternative or in combination with other treatment,"
Like so many interesting leads in the field of dementia, we seem to need more research before doctors are willing to assert, "Do this, and you'll be cured!"
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