Implicaciones clínicas y terapéuticas de la acupuntura en la enfermedad de Parkinson: una revisión exploratoria

Introduction

Parkinson's disease is primarily triggered by the selective degeneration of dopaminergic neurons, alpha-synuclein protein clumps; genetic and systemic inflammatory processes are now known to be involved, the clinical manifestations of which include motor and non-motor symptoms. There is currently little information on the clinical impact of acupuncture on Parkinson's disease.

Objective

To evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of Parkinson's disease.

Material and methods

Exploratory systematic review in PubMed and Scopus, covering publications with observational and interventional data, in English and Spanish, on acupuncture in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. Study records from 18 databases of the World Health Organization's International Clinical Trials Registry Platform were included.

Results

A total of 22 articles were included: 10 randomized controlled clinical trials, 5 cohort studies, 3 case–control studies, 3 uncontrolled clinical trials, and 1 case report, with a total study population of 645 patients. In addition, 2 clinical trial registries were included with a future study population of 204 patients. Overall, acupuncture, with and without pharmacological therapy, can control motor symptoms and improve quality of life in patients with Parkinson's disease.

Conclusion

Acupuncture may be a useful tool in improving motor symptoms and quality of life in Parkinson's patients. However, studies with a larger sample population, longer follow-up period, and standardized scales to assess the effectiveness of the therapy are needed to further investigate its impact on the disease.