Research shows Dementia patients benefit from acupuncture
Research has shown that acupuncture can improve drug effectiveness for the treatment of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers concluded “that acupuncture may be better than drugs and may enhance the effect of donepezil in terms of improving the cognitive function of AD patients.”
The drugs included in the meta-analysis were donepezil, almitrine, raubasine, dihydroergotoxine, nimodipine, and piracetam. The two acupuncture points most frequently administered for the treatment of AD in the meta-analysis were GV20 and ST36
Four of the randomized controlled trials found acupuncture “superior to drugs”.
Six randomized controlled trials found acupuncture combined with donepezil more effective than only donepezil. .
Laboratory results have confirmed the findings with electron microscopy showing strengthening of hippocampal structures and a reduction in “neuronal cell injury”.
Ref: Zhou, Jing, Weina Peng, Min Xu, Wang Li, and Zhishun Liu. “The Effectiveness and Safety of Acupuncture for Patients With Alzheimer Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.” Medicine 94, no. 22 (2015): e933.
