The potential of acupuncture in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease: An exploration from traditional Chinese medicine to modern technology

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease with the highest prevalence worldwide, and it places considerable life and economic burdens on patients and their families. Currently, treatments for AD only delay symptoms, fail to reverse disease progression, and are often accompanied by...

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Main Authors: Mei Wang, Li Zhang, Wendi Huang, Juan Huang, Yong Luo, Nanqu Huang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-10-01
Series:Complementary Therapies in Medicine
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0965229925000974
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author Mei Wang
Li Zhang
Wendi Huang
Juan Huang
Yong Luo
Nanqu Huang
author_facet Mei Wang
Li Zhang
Wendi Huang
Juan Huang
Yong Luo
Nanqu Huang
author_sort Mei Wang
collection DOAJ
description Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease with the highest prevalence worldwide, and it places considerable life and economic burdens on patients and their families. Currently, treatments for AD only delay symptoms, fail to reverse disease progression, and are often accompanied by significant side effects. Acupuncture, a nonpharmacological therapeutic method originating from China, has a history of thousands of years and is characterized by safety and economy. In recent years, the potential of acupuncture use in AD treatment has received widespread attention. With the rapid development of modern science and technology, the mechanism of action of acupuncture in the treatment of AD has gradually become increasingly clear. Therefore, we searched the databases of China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), PubMed and Web of Science for relevant studies on acupuncture for AD in recent years. According to the literature, acupuncture can improve cognitive function in AD patients through various mechanisms, such as reducing β-amyloid deposition, inhibiting Tau protein hyperphosphorylation, and attenuating neuroinflammation, and shows good therapeutic potential. Future studies should further explore in depth the mechanisms of acupuncture in treating AD through the rational use of modern science and technology techniques, with the aim of providing new strategies for the treatment of AD.
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series Complementary Therapies in Medicine
spelling doaj-art-1cef0dde70414409abf38461a4c569df2025-08-20T03:42:34ZengElsevierComplementary Therapies in Medicine0965-22992025-10-019310322210.1016/j.ctim.2025.103222The potential of acupuncture in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease: An exploration from traditional Chinese medicine to modern technologyMei Wang0Li Zhang1Wendi Huang2Juan Huang3Yong Luo4Nanqu Huang5Department of Neurology, Third Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University (The First People’s Hospital of Zunyi), Zunyi, Guizhou 563000, ChinaDepartment of Neurology, Third Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University (The First People’s Hospital of Zunyi), Zunyi, Guizhou 563000, ChinaDepartment of Neurology, Third Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University (The First People’s Hospital of Zunyi), Zunyi, Guizhou 563000, ChinaKey Laboratory of Basic Pharmacology and Joint International Research Laboratory of Ethnomedicine of Ministry of Education, Zunyi Medical University, Guizhou 563000, China; Chinese Pharmacological Society-Guizhou Province Joint Laboratory for Pharmacology, Zunyi, Guizhou 563000, ChinaDepartment of Neurology, Third Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University (The First People’s Hospital of Zunyi), Zunyi, Guizhou 563000, China; Department of Geriatrics, Third Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University (The First People’s Hospital of Zunyi), Zunyi, Guizhou 563000, China; Corresponding author at: Department of Neurology, Third Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University (The First People’s Hospital of Zunyi), Zunyi, Guizhou 563000, ChinaDepartment of Geriatrics, Third Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University (The First People’s Hospital of Zunyi), Zunyi, Guizhou 563000, China; National Drug Clinical Trial Institution, Third Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University (The First People’s Hospital of Zunyi), Zunyi, Guizhou 563000, China; Corresponding author at: Department of Geriatrics, Third Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University (The First People’s Hospital of Zunyi), Zunyi, Guizhou 563000, ChinaAlzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease with the highest prevalence worldwide, and it places considerable life and economic burdens on patients and their families. Currently, treatments for AD only delay symptoms, fail to reverse disease progression, and are often accompanied by significant side effects. Acupuncture, a nonpharmacological therapeutic method originating from China, has a history of thousands of years and is characterized by safety and economy. In recent years, the potential of acupuncture use in AD treatment has received widespread attention. With the rapid development of modern science and technology, the mechanism of action of acupuncture in the treatment of AD has gradually become increasingly clear. Therefore, we searched the databases of China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), PubMed and Web of Science for relevant studies on acupuncture for AD in recent years. According to the literature, acupuncture can improve cognitive function in AD patients through various mechanisms, such as reducing β-amyloid deposition, inhibiting Tau protein hyperphosphorylation, and attenuating neuroinflammation, and shows good therapeutic potential. Future studies should further explore in depth the mechanisms of acupuncture in treating AD through the rational use of modern science and technology techniques, with the aim of providing new strategies for the treatment of AD.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0965229925000974Alzheimer's diseaseTraditional Chinese medicineAcupunctureNonpharmacological treatmentArtificial intelligence
spellingShingle Mei Wang
Li Zhang
Wendi Huang
Juan Huang
Yong Luo
Nanqu Huang
The potential of acupuncture in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease: An exploration from traditional Chinese medicine to modern technology
Complementary Therapies in Medicine
Alzheimer's disease
Traditional Chinese medicine
Acupuncture
Nonpharmacological treatment
Artificial intelligence
title The potential of acupuncture in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease: An exploration from traditional Chinese medicine to modern technology
title_full The potential of acupuncture in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease: An exploration from traditional Chinese medicine to modern technology
title_fullStr The potential of acupuncture in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease: An exploration from traditional Chinese medicine to modern technology
title_full_unstemmed The potential of acupuncture in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease: An exploration from traditional Chinese medicine to modern technology
title_short The potential of acupuncture in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease: An exploration from traditional Chinese medicine to modern technology
title_sort potential of acupuncture in the treatment of alzheimer s disease an exploration from traditional chinese medicine to modern technology
topic Alzheimer's disease
Traditional Chinese medicine
Acupuncture
Nonpharmacological treatment
Artificial intelligence
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0965229925000974
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