Acupuncture therapies effective against early symptoms of dementia

Mild memory disorders can be treated with acupuncture
Acupuncture is already successfully used in medicine for a wide variety of medical conditions today. A new study suggests that cognitive impairment, such as those that occur in the early stages of dementia, can also be better treated with the help of acupuncture.

If acupuncture is used as an adjunct to drug treatment, significant improvements in memory are noted, according to Chinese researchers from Wuhan University in the journal "Acupuncture in Medicine" (published by the British Medical Journal, BMJ). The researchers had evaluated several older studies to determine possible effects of acupuncture on cognitive impairment in early dementia. However, the scientists also pointed to methodological weaknesses in the studies evaluated.

Acupuncture not only helps against back pain, but may also be used for early-stage dementia. (Image: Andrey Popov / fotolia.com)

Early sign of dementia
Mild cognitive impairment is often an early indication of dementia, although only five to ten percent of people actually develop dementia, researchers from Wuhan University report. In recent years, the interest in acupuncture as a potential treatment for cognitive impairment has increased significantly and various studies have taken on the subject. For their meta-analysis, the researchers have now used five of these studies to assess the clinical efficacy and safety of acupuncture in mild memory disorders. Overall, the meta-analysis included data from 568 subjects with mild memory impairment.

Acupuncture with a clear effect on memory
The evaluation of the data showed that the memory of acupuncture definitely benefits. In the memory tests performed, the subjects who had received acupuncture performed better than those from the medication group. An even clearer improvement in memory was evident when the acupuncture was used concomitantly to a drug therapy. The effect of acupuncture would therefore be quite suitable for the treatment of mild cognitive impairment in the early stages of dementia.

Further investigations required
Although acupuncture seems effective as an alternative and as adjunctive medication to mild cognitive impairment, caution is warranted. The low methodological quality of the studies included makes a more rigorous investigation necessary before a recommendation can be made. Dr. James Pickett, director of research at the UK's Alzheimer's Society, told the Daily Mail that the lack of strong and convincing evidence currently does not allow meaningful conclusions, and on this basis does not allow acupuncture in response to memory impairment or dementia recommend. (Fp)