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

Abstract

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.