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Chen Z, Wang X, Du S, Liu Q, Xu Z, Guo Y, Lin X. A review on traditional Chinese medicine natural products and acupuncture intervention for Alzheimer's disease based on the neuroinflammatory. Chin Med 2024; 19:35. [PMID: 38419106 PMCID: PMC10900670 DOI: 10.1186/s13020-024-00900-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease with insidious onset and progressive development. It is clinically characterized by cognitive impairment, memory impairment and behavioral change. Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture are important components of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), and are commonly used in clinical treatment of AD. This paper systematically summarizes the research progress of traditional Chinese medicine natural products and acupuncture treatment of AD, which combined with existing clinical and preclinical evidence, based on a comprehensive review of neuroinflammation, and discusses the efficacy and potential mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine natural products and acupuncture treatment of AD. Resveratrol, curcumin, kaempferol and other Chinese herbal medicine components can significantly inhibit the neuroinflammation of AD in vivo and in vitro, and are candidates for the treatment of AD. Acupuncture can alleviate the memory and cognitive impairment of AD by improving neuroinflammation, synaptic plasticity, nerve cell apoptosis and reducing the production and aggregation of amyloid β protein (Aβ) in the brain. It has the characteristics of early, safe, effective and benign bidirectional adjustment. The purpose of this paper is to provide a basis for improving the clinical strategies of TCM for the treatment of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhihan Chen
- School of Acupuncture & Moxibustion and Tuina, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617, People's Republic of China
| | - Xinrui Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Component-Based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617, China
| | - Simin Du
- School of Acupuncture & Moxibustion and Tuina, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617, People's Republic of China
| | - Qi Liu
- School of Acupuncture & Moxibustion and Tuina, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhifang Xu
- School of Acupuncture & Moxibustion and Tuina, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617, People's Republic of China
- Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617, People's Republic of China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine Theory of Innovation and Application, Tianjin, 301617, People's Republic of China
- National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, 300381, People's Republic of China
| | - Yi Guo
- Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617, People's Republic of China.
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine Theory of Innovation and Application, Tianjin, 301617, People's Republic of China.
- National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, 300381, People's Republic of China.
| | - Xiaowei Lin
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617, People's Republic of China.
- Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617, People's Republic of China.
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine Theory of Innovation and Application, Tianjin, 301617, People's Republic of China.
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Yin Z, Wang Z, Li Y, Zhou J, Chen Z, Xia M, Zhang X, Wu J, Zhao L, Liang F. Neuroimaging studies of acupuncture on Alzheimer's disease: a systematic review. BMC Complement Med Ther 2023; 23:63. [PMID: 36823586 PMCID: PMC9948384 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-023-03888-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acupuncture effectively improves cognitive function in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Many neuroimaging studies have found significant brain alterations after acupuncture treatment of AD, but the underlying central modulation mechanism is unclear. OBJECTIVE This review aims to provide neuroimaging evidence to understand the central mechanisms of acupuncture in patients with AD. METHODS Relevant neuroimaging studies about acupuncture for AD were retrieved from eight English and Chinese medicine databases (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, SinoMed, CNKI, WF, VIP) and other resources from inception of databases until June 1, 2022, and their methodological quality was assessed using RoB 2.0 and ROBINS - I. Brain neuroimaging information was extracted to investigate the potential neural mechanism of acupuncture for AD. Descriptive statistics were used for data analysis. RESULTS Thirteen neuroimaging studies involving 275 participants were included in this review, and the overall methodological quality of included studies was moderate. The approaches applied included task-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (ts-fMRI; n = 9 studies) and rest-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI; n = 4 studies). All studies focused on the instant effect of acupuncture on the brains of AD participants, including the cingulate gyrus, middle frontal gyrus, and cerebellum, indicating that acupuncture may regulate the default mode, central executive, and frontoparietal networks. CONCLUSION This study provides evidence of the neural mechanisms underlying the effect of acupuncture on AD involving cognitive- and motor-associated networks. However, this evidence is still in the preliminary investigation stage. Large-scale, well-designed, multimodal neuroimaging trials are still required to provide comprehensive insight into the central mechanism underlying the effect of acupuncture on AD. (Systematic review registration at PROSPERO, No. CRD42022331527).
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Affiliation(s)
- Zihan Yin
- grid.411304.30000 0001 0376 205XSchool of Acu-Mox and Tuina, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China ,Acupuncture Clinical Research Center of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
| | - Ziqi Wang
- grid.517561.1the Fourth People’s Hospital of Chengdu, Chengdu, China
| | - Yaqin Li
- grid.411304.30000 0001 0376 205XSchool of Acu-Mox and Tuina, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Jun Zhou
- grid.411304.30000 0001 0376 205XSchool of Acu-Mox and Tuina, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Zhenghong Chen
- grid.411304.30000 0001 0376 205XSchool of Acu-Mox and Tuina, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China ,Acupuncture Clinical Research Center of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
| | - Manze Xia
- grid.411304.30000 0001 0376 205XSchool of Acu-Mox and Tuina, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China ,Acupuncture Clinical Research Center of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
| | - Xinyue Zhang
- grid.411304.30000 0001 0376 205XSchool of Acu-Mox and Tuina, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China ,Acupuncture Clinical Research Center of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
| | - Jiajing Wu
- grid.417409.f0000 0001 0240 6969School of Nursing, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Ling Zhao
- School of Acu-Mox and Tuina, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China. .,Acupuncture Clinical Research Center of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China.
| | - Fanrong Liang
- School of Acu-Mox and Tuina, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China. .,Acupuncture Clinical Research Center of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China.
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3
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Zhang Z, Chen L, Guo Y, Li D, Zhang J, Liu L, Fan W, Guo T, Qin S, Zhao Y, Xu Z, Chen Z. The neuroprotective and neural circuit mechanisms of acupoint stimulation for cognitive impairment. Chin Med 2023; 18:8. [PMID: 36670425 PMCID: PMC9863122 DOI: 10.1186/s13020-023-00707-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Cognitive impairment is a prevalent neurological disorder that burdens families and the healthcare system. Current conventional therapies for cognitive impairment, such as cholinesterase inhibitors and N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor antagonists, are unable to completely stop or reverse the progression of the disease. Also, these medicines may cause serious problems with the digestive system, cardiovascular system, and sleep. Clinically, stimulation of acupoints has the potential to ameliorate the common symptoms of a variety of cognitive disorders, such as memory deficit, language dysfunction, executive dysfunction, reduced ability to live independently, etc. There are common acupoint stimulation mechanisms for treating various types of cognitive impairment, but few systematic analyses of the underlying mechanisms in this domain have been performed. This study comprehensively reviewed the basic research from the last 20 years and found that acupoint stimulation can effectively improve the spatial learning and memory of animals. The common mechanism may be that acupoint stimulation protects hippocampal neurons by preventing apoptosis and scavenging toxic proteins. Additionally, acupoint stimulation has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, promoting neural regeneration, regulating synaptic plasticity, and normalizing neural circuits by restoring brain functional activity and connectivity. Acupoint stimulation also inhibits the production of amyloid β-peptide and the phosphorylation of Tau protein, suggesting that it may protect neurons by promoting correct protein folding and regulating the degradation of toxic proteins via the autophagy-lysosomal pathway. However, the benefits of acupoint stimulation still need to be further explored in more high-quality studies in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zichen Zhang
- grid.410648.f0000 0001 1816 6218Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617 People’s Republic of China
| | - Liuyi Chen
- grid.410648.f0000 0001 1816 6218Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617 People’s Republic of China ,grid.257143.60000 0004 1772 1285First Clinical College, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, 430065 People’s Republic of China
| | - Yi Guo
- grid.410648.f0000 0001 1816 6218Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617 People’s Republic of China ,grid.410648.f0000 0001 1816 6218National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, 300381 People’s Republic of China
| | - Dan Li
- grid.410648.f0000 0001 1816 6218Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617 People’s Republic of China ,grid.410648.f0000 0001 1816 6218School of Acupuncture and Moxibustion and Tuina, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617 People’s Republic of China ,grid.410648.f0000 0001 1816 6218National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, 300381 People’s Republic of China
| | - Jingyu Zhang
- grid.410648.f0000 0001 1816 6218Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617 People’s Republic of China
| | - Ling Liu
- grid.257143.60000 0004 1772 1285First Clinical College, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, 430065 People’s Republic of China
| | - Wen Fan
- grid.412879.10000 0004 0374 1074Department of Rehabilitation Physical Therapy Course, Faculty of Health Science, Suzuka University of Medical Science, Suzuka City, 5100293 Japan
| | - Tao Guo
- grid.410648.f0000 0001 1816 6218Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617 People’s Republic of China
| | - Siru Qin
- grid.410648.f0000 0001 1816 6218Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617 People’s Republic of China
| | - Yadan Zhao
- grid.410648.f0000 0001 1816 6218Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617 People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhifang Xu
- grid.410648.f0000 0001 1816 6218Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617 People’s Republic of China ,grid.410648.f0000 0001 1816 6218School of Acupuncture and Moxibustion and Tuina, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617 People’s Republic of China ,grid.410648.f0000 0001 1816 6218National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, 300381 People’s Republic of China
| | - Zelin Chen
- grid.410648.f0000 0001 1816 6218Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617 People’s Republic of China ,grid.410648.f0000 0001 1816 6218School of Acupuncture and Moxibustion and Tuina, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617 People’s Republic of China ,grid.410648.f0000 0001 1816 6218National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, 300381 People’s Republic of China
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Yue J, Li XL, Gao RX, Zhang Q, Li A, Zhao WW, Li Y, Li SL. Research status, hotspots and trends of acupuncture and moxibustion in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease: A bibliometric analysis. Medicine (Baltimore) 2022; 101:e30858. [PMID: 36181105 PMCID: PMC9524865 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000030858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acupuncture and moxibustion (AM) are utilized to treat Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, no bibliometric analysis has explored this issue. Thus, this study investigated the status, hotspots and trends of AM in the treatment of AD. METHODS CiteSpace and VOSviewer softwares were used to analyze the literature on the AM for AD in the Web of Science Core Collection database. We analyzed the data of countries/regions, institutions, journals, authors, keywords, and cited references. RESULTS After removing duplicates, 193 articles were retrieved. The number of publications on this topic has increased gradually. The most productive and collaborative country was China (143 documents), followed by South Korea (19). The top 3 active academic institutions were Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Capital Medicine University, and Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine. The most productive journal was Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (13 documents), followed by the Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience (10), Medicine (10), and Neural Regeneration Research (10). The top 3 co-cited journals were Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (156 citations), Acupuncture Electro-therapeutics Research (152), and Acupuncture in Medicine (146). The research hotspots in this domain are dementia, memory, hippocampus, mouse models, and Parkinson's disease. Major frontiers are comparing the therapeutic effects of acupuncture and donepezil and electroacupuncture at different frequencies in this field. CONCLUSION This bibliometric study identified relevant hotspots and trends in research on AM in the treatment of AD, which can provide researchers with key information in this domain and help further explore new research directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinhuan Yue
- Department of Tuina, Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Shenzhen Jiuwei Chinese Medicine Clinic, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xiao-Ling Li
- Division of CT and MRI, First Affiliated Hospital of Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China
| | - Rui-Xue Gao
- Graduate School of Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China
| | - Qinhong Zhang
- Department of Tuina, Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Shenzhen Jiuwei Chinese Medicine Clinic, Shenzhen, China
| | - Ang Li
- Sanofi-Aventis China Investment Co., Ltd, Beijing, China
| | | | - Yan Li
- Department of Otolaryngology, First Affiliated Hospital of Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China
| | - Shu-Lin Li
- First Affiliated Hospital of Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China
- *Correspondence: Shu-Lin Li, First Affiliated Hospital of Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, No. 26 Heping Road, Xiangfang District, Harbin 150040, China (e-mail: )
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Zhou R, Xiao L, Xiao W, Yi Y, Wen H, Wang H. Bibliometric review of 1992–2022 publications on acupuncture for cognitive impairment. Front Neurol 2022; 13:1006830. [PMID: 36226080 PMCID: PMC9549373 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.1006830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective To explore the development context, research hotspots, and frontiers of acupuncture therapy for cognitive impairment (CI) from 1992 to 2022 by visualization analysis. Methods Articles about acupuncture therapy for cognitive impairment were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) until 1 March 2022. Basic information was collected by Excel 2007, and VOSviewer 1.6.17 was used to analyze the co-occurrence of countries, institutes, and authors. Co-citation maps of authors and references were analyzed by CiteSpace V.5.8.R3. In addition, CiteSpace was used to analyze keyword clusters and forecast research frontiers. Results A total of 279 articles were retrieved, including articles from 19 countries, 334 research institutes, and 101 academic journals. The most published country and institutes were the People's Republic of China (217) and the Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (40). Ronald C Petersen owned the highest co-citations (56). Keywords and co-cited references cluster showed the main research directions in this area, including “ischemic stroke,” “cerebral ischemia/reperfusion,” “mild cognitive impairment,” “Alzheimer's disease,” “vascular dementia,” “vascular cognitive impairment with no dementia,” “multi-infarct dementia,” “synaptic injury,” “functional MRI,” “glucose metabolism,” “NMDA,” “nuclear factor-kappa b pathway,” “neurotrophic factor,” “matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2),” “tumor necrosis factor-alpha,” “Bax,” “Caspase-3,” and “Noxa”. Trending keywords may indicate frontier topics, such as “randomized controlled trial,” “rat model,” and “meta-analysis.” Conclusion This research provides valuable information for the study of acupuncture. Diseases focus on mild cognitive impairment (MCI), Alzheimer's disease (AD), and vascular dementia (VaD). Tauopathies with hyperphosphorylation of Tau protein as the main lesions also need to be paid attention to. The development of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) will better explain the therapeutic effect of acupuncture treatment. The effect of acupuncture on a single point is more convincing, and acupuncture on Baihui (GV20) may be needed in the future. Finally, the implementation of high-quality multicenter randomized controlled trials (RCTs) requires increased collaboration among experts from multiple fields and countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Runjin Zhou
- Medical College of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lu Xiao
- Ganzhou Cancer Hospital, Ganzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Lu Xiao
| | - Wei Xiao
- Ganzhou Cancer Hospital, Ganzhou, China
| | - Yanfei Yi
- Ganzhou Cancer Hospital, Ganzhou, China
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Effects of Acupuncture on Oxidative Stress Amelioration via Nrf2/ARE-Related Pathways in Alzheimer and Parkinson Diseases. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2021; 2021:6624976. [PMID: 33995547 PMCID: PMC8096560 DOI: 10.1155/2021/6624976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Oxidative stress is responsible for the pathogeneses of various diseases. Mitochondrial dysfunction, impaired DNA repair, and cellular damage followed by oxidative stress contribute to neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer disease (AD) and Parkinson disease (PD). Acupuncture is a traditional therapy that has been practiced for >3000 years in Asia. Many studies have demonstrated that acupuncture has notable antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic effects. However, the exact mechanism remains unclear. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf2) is crucial in regulating the redox equilibrium. Activated Nfr2 translocates into the nucleus, binds to the antioxidant response element (ARE), and initiates antioxidative enzyme transcription. In this review, we demonstrated the effects of acupuncture on oxidative stress amelioration in AD and PD animal models through Nrf2/ARE pathway activation and Nrf2/ARE-related pathway regulation. Thus, acupuncture could be a therapeutic option for AD and PD.
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The Role of Acupuncture Improving Cognitive Deficits due to Alzheimer's Disease or Vascular Diseases through Regulating Neuroplasticity. Neural Plast 2021; 2021:8868447. [PMID: 33505460 PMCID: PMC7815402 DOI: 10.1155/2021/8868447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Revised: 11/29/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Dementia affects millions of elderly worldwide causing remarkable costs to society, but effective treatment is still lacking. Acupuncture is one of the complementary therapies that has been applied to cognitive deficits such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular cognitive impairment (VCI), while the underlying mechanisms of its therapeutic efficiency remain elusive. Neuroplasticity is defined as the ability of the nervous system to adapt to internal and external environmental changes, which may support some data to clarify mechanisms how acupuncture improves cognitive impairments. This review summarizes the up-to-date and comprehensive information on the effectiveness of acupuncture treatment on neurogenesis and gliogenesis, synaptic plasticity, related regulatory factors, and signaling pathways, as well as brain network connectivity, to lay ground for fully elucidating the potential mechanism of acupuncture on the regulation of neuroplasticity and promoting its clinical application as a complementary therapy for AD and VCI.
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Yu CC, Du YJ, Wang SQ, Liu LB, Shen F, Wang L, Lin YF, Kong LH. Experimental Evidence of the Benefits of Acupuncture for Alzheimer's Disease: An Updated Review. Front Neurosci 2021; 14:549772. [PMID: 33408601 PMCID: PMC7779610 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.549772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
As the global population ages, the prevalence of Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common form of dementia, is also increasing. At present, there are no widely recognized drugs able to ameliorate the cognitive dysfunction caused by AD. The failure of several promising clinical trials in recent years has highlighted the urgent need for novel strategies to both prevent and treat AD. Notably, a growing body of literature supports the efficacy of acupuncture for AD. In this review, we summarize the previously reported mechanisms of acupuncture's beneficial effects in AD, including the ability of acupuncture to modulate Aβ metabolism, tau phosphorylation, neurotransmitters, neurogenesis, synapse and neuron function, autophagy, neuronal apoptosis, neuroinflammation, cerebral glucose metabolism, and brain responses. Taken together, these findings suggest that acupuncture provides therapeutic effects for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao-Chao Yu
- Department of Tuina, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, China.,The Fourth Clinical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yan-Jun Du
- College of Acupuncture and Orthopedics, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, China
| | - Shu-Qin Wang
- Department of Tuina, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, China.,The Fourth Clinical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, China
| | - Le-Bin Liu
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Hubei Rongjun Hospital, Wuhan, China
| | - Feng Shen
- College of Acupuncture and Orthopedics, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, China
| | - Li Wang
- College of Acupuncture and Orthopedics, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, China
| | - Yuan-Fang Lin
- Department of Tuina, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, China.,The Fourth Clinical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, China
| | - Li-Hong Kong
- College of Acupuncture and Orthopedics, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, China
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Chen KY, Huang MC, Lin CL, Lee YC, Wu MY, Yen HR. Acupuncture Treatment is Associated with a Decreased Risk of Dementia in Patients with Depression: A Propensity Score-Matched Cohort Study. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat 2021; 17:3255-3266. [PMID: 34764650 PMCID: PMC8575370 DOI: 10.2147/ndt.s331026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Depression is one of the most disabling disorders, which causes long-term complications such as neurodegenerative disorder and cerebrovascular disease. Some patients with depression seek acupuncture treatment. We aimed to investigate the association between acupuncture treatment and the risk of dementia in patients with depression from the perspective of real-world evidence. METHODS Patients over 18 years old and newly diagnosed with depression between 1997 and 2010 were selected from the Taiwanese National Health Insurance Research Database and followed up until the end of 2013. Propensity score was used to match equal numbers of patients 1:1 (N = 16,609 per group) into acupuncture and non-acupuncture cohorts based on characteristics including sex, age, baseline comorbidity and drug use. The outcome measurement was the comparison of dementia incidence in the two cohorts. RESULTS Compared with the non-acupuncture cohort, patients who received acupuncture treatment had a decreased risk of dementia (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 0.54; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.50-0.58, P < 0.001) after adjustment for age, sex, comorbidities and drug use. Compared with depression patients who did not receive acupuncture, the aHR of vascular dementia and Alzheimer's disease incidences for patients who had acupuncture therapy was 0.59 (95% CI 0.48-0.71) and 0.51 (95% CI 0.39-0.67), respectively. The cumulative incidence of dementia was significantly lower in the acupuncture cohort than in the non-acupuncture cohort (Log rank test, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION The present study from real-world data revealed that acupuncture reduced the risk of dementia in depression patients, which supports healthcare decisions in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuan-Yu Chen
- Department of Chinese Medicine, Taipei City Hospital, Yangming Branch, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Cheng Huang
- Department of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.,Graduate Institute of Chinese Medicine, School of Chinese Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Li Lin
- Management Office for Health Data, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Chen Lee
- Department of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.,Graduate Institute of Chinese Medicine, School of Chinese Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.,Graduate Institute of Acupuncture Science, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Mei-Yao Wu
- Department of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.,School of Post-Baccalaureate Chinese Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Hung-Rong Yen
- Department of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.,Graduate Institute of Chinese Medicine, School of Chinese Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.,Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.,Chinese Medicine Research Center, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.,Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan
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The Effectiveness of Acupuncture Treatment for Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. JOURNAL OF ACUPUNCTURE RESEARCH 2020. [DOI: 10.13045/jar.2020.00255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture treatment for the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). There were 11 databases searched for randomized controlled trials using acupuncture treatment for AD. The risk-of-bias assessment tool of the Cochrane Library was used to evaluate the quality of each study. Using the Review Manager (RevMan), a meta-analysis was performed using risk ratio, mean difference, 95% confidence interval, and random effect model. There were 32 studies selected, all of which were conducted in China. There were 16 studies where acupuncture was used as the intervention, and 23 studies used Donepezil as the control group. Acupoint GV20 was most frequently selected during the treatment. The Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) was the most frequently used outcome variable. A period of 12 weeks was the most common treatment duration. As a result of meta-analysis (<i>n</i> = 25), acupuncture improved the MMSE and activities of daily living scores. Electroacupuncture improved the Alzheimer Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive Subscale, and scalp acupuncture improved the MMSE score for AD. Acupuncture alleviates the symptoms of AD. However, further research is necessary to provide a better level of evidence.
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Kim Y, Lee JH, Jung IC, Eom YJ, Cho SH. Efficacy and safety of Hominis placenta pharmacopuncture on mild cognitive impairment: Randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled, multi-center trial. Medicine (Baltimore) 2020; 99:e22956. [PMID: 33181659 PMCID: PMC7668472 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000022956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is cognitive decline which can be observed in a wide range of cognitive domains. It is considered as a prodromal stage of dementia; therefore, strategies for treatment are necessary, but current evidence is limited. Combining the memory enhancing effect of Hominis placenta (H placenta) and acupuncture elucidated separately in previous studies, efficacy of H placenta pharmacopuncture for treating MCI is anticipated. METHODS Thirty participants will be recruited. Male and female adults aged 50 to 80 who voluntarily participate in the trial, are diagnosed with MCI according to diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders-5 criteria, and have a Clinical Dementia Rating score 0.5 will be enrolled. Participants who meet the criteria will be randomly allocated to either pharmacopuncture group or control group. Participants will undergo H placenta pharmacopuncture or saline pharmacopuncture in GV20, ST36, and CV12 twice weekly for 8 weeks and will be evaluated a month after the last treatment. Primary outcome will be difference in mean change of Korean version of Montreal Cognitive Assessment scores between intervention group and control group. Cognition, mood, sleep quality and quality of life will be also assessed using other neuropsychological tests and questionnaires regarding depression, anxiety, sleep and quality of life. DISCUSSION Evaluating the efficacy and safety data obtained by assessing diverse aspects of patients with MCI will broaden the scope of MCI management and prevention of dementia progression. TRIAL REGISTRATION Clinical Research Information Service (KCT0005368), Registered 02 Sep 2020, https://cris.nih.go.kr/cris/en/search/search_result_st01.jsp?seq=16425.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunna Kim
- College of Korean Medicine
- Research Group of Neuroscience, East-West Medical Research Institute, WHO Collaborating Center
- Department of Clinical Korean Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul
| | - Jae Hyok Lee
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, College of Korean Medicine, Semyung University
| | - In Chul Jung
- Department of Oriental Neuropsychiatry, College of Korean Medicine, Daejeon University
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Daejeon Korean Medicine Hospital of Daejeon University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Yoon Ji Eom
- College of Korean Medicine
- Research Group of Neuroscience, East-West Medical Research Institute, WHO Collaborating Center
- Department of Clinical Korean Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul
| | - Seung-Hun Cho
- College of Korean Medicine
- Research Group of Neuroscience, East-West Medical Research Institute, WHO Collaborating Center
- Department of Clinical Korean Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul
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12
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Zhao FY, Fu QQ, Zheng Z, Lao LX, Song HL, Shi Z. Verum- versus Sham-Acupuncture on Alzheimer's Disease (AD) in Animal Models: A Preclinical Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2020; 2020:5901573. [PMID: 32337259 PMCID: PMC7150729 DOI: 10.1155/2020/5901573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2019] [Revised: 11/23/2019] [Accepted: 11/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a common health condition affecting senile people and leads to severe cognitive dysfunctions. Acupuncture has been shown to be a possible alternative natural remedy for AD in some animal studies. OBJECTIVE To perform a systematic review to identify the effect of verum-acupuncture compared with sham-acupuncture on learning and memory performance among animal models of AD. METHODS Experimental animal studies of treating AD via verum- and sham- acupuncture were searched in nine electronic databases, including Sciverse ScienceDirect, PubMed, Springer, Ebsco Medline, AMED, EMBASE (Elsevier), Scopus (Elsevier), PsycINFO (ProQuest), and OVID from the dates of the databases' inception to June 2019. The Morris water maze test was considered as an outcome measure. The software Revman 5.3 and Stata 16.0 were used to conduct the meta-analysis. Heterogeneity was examined by using I2 statistics. The publication bias was assessed via Begg's test by Stata 16.0. RESULTS Twelve studies involving 229 animals met the inclusion criteria. Most of the studies had a moderate quality according to SYRCLE's risk of bias tool for animal studies. The results of the meta-analysis indicated that verum-acupuncture could reduce the escape latency (MD = -12.90, 95% CI (-17.08, -8.71), p < 0.001) and increase the time spent in the original platform quadrant (MD = 7.28, 95% CI (4.23, 10.33), p < 0.001) and frequency of the crossing former platform (MD = 2.01, 95% CI (1.53, 2.50), p < 0.001) compared with the sham-acupuncture. CONCLUSIONS Acupuncture is effective in improving cognitive functions in AD animal models, and this benefit is more than just a placebo effect. Further clinical trials are needed to confirm the findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei-Yi Zhao
- Department of Nursing, School of International Medical Technology, Shanghai Sanda University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qiang-Qiang Fu
- Yangpu Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhen Zheng
- School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Bundoora, Victoria 3083, Australia
| | - Li-Xing Lao
- School of Chinese Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 10 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
- Virginia University of Integrative Medicine, Fairfax, VA 22031, USA
| | - Hua-Ling Song
- School of Public Health, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zumin Shi
- Human Nutrition Department, College of Health Science, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
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13
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Liu YN, Wu HG, Zheng HD, Wang ZQ, Li SS, Lu Y, Huang Y, Zhou CL, Lu YQ, Liu HR. Effect of acupoints on acupuncture-moxibustion and its therapeutic mechanism. WORLD JOURNAL OF TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE 2020. [DOI: 10.4103/wjtcm.wjtcm_18_20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
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14
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Guo X, Ma T. Effects of Acupuncture on Neurological Disease in Clinical- and Animal-Based Research. Front Integr Neurosci 2019; 13:47. [PMID: 31543763 PMCID: PMC6729102 DOI: 10.3389/fnint.2019.00047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2019] [Accepted: 08/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurological disease, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), which were caused by abnormalities in the nervous system involves the accumulation of false proteins, neurotransmitter abnormalities, neuronal apoptosis, etc. As an alternative supplementary medicine (ASM), acupuncture plays an important role in the treatment of neurological diseases. In this review article, we summarized the current evidence for the treatment efficacy of acupuncture in AD and PD from the perspective of clinical trials and animal model. Acupuncture can inhibit the accumulation of toxic proteins in neurological diseases, modulate energy supply based on glucose metabolism, depress neuronal apoptosis, etc., and exert a wide range of neuroprotective effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangyu Guo
- Dongfang Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Tao Ma
- Dongfang Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
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15
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Qiao J, Zhao J, Chang S, Sun Q, Liu N, Dong J, Chen Y, Yang D, Ye D, Liu X, Yu Y, Chen W, Zhu S, Wang G, Jia W, Xi J, Kang J. MicroRNA-153 improves the neurogenesis of neural stem cells and enhances the cognitive ability of aged mice through the notch signaling pathway. Cell Death Differ 2019; 27:808-825. [PMID: 31296962 DOI: 10.1038/s41418-019-0388-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2018] [Revised: 05/29/2019] [Accepted: 06/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Aging-related cognitive ability impairments are one of the main threats to public health, and impaired hippocampal neurogenesis is a major cause of cognitive decline during aging. However, the regulation of adult neurogenesis in the hippocampus requires further study. Here, we investigated the role of microRNA-153 (miR-153), a highly conserved microRNA in mice and humans, in adult neurogenesis. During the passaging of neural stem cells (NSCs) in vitro, endogenous miR-153 expression was downregulated, with a decrease in neuronal differentiation ability. In addition, miR-153 overexpression increased the neurogenesis of NSCs. Further studies showed that miR-153 regulated neurogenesis by precisely targeting the Notch signaling pathway through inhibition of Jagged1 and Hey2 translation. In vivo analysis demonstrated that miR-153 expression was decreased in the hippocampi of aged mice with impaired cognitive ability, and that miR-153 overexpression in the hippocampus promoted neurogenesis and markedly increased the cognitive abilities of the aged mice. Overall, our findings revealed that miR-153 affected neurogenesis by regulating the Notch signaling pathway and elucidated the function of miR-153 in aging-related, hippocampus-dependent cognitive ability impairments, and neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Qiao
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Jinping Zhao
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Shujuan Chang
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Qiaoyi Sun
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Nana Liu
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Jianfeng Dong
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Yafang Chen
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Dandan Yang
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Dan Ye
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Xiaoqin Liu
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Yangyang Yu
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Wen Chen
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Songcheng Zhu
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Guiying Wang
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Wenwen Jia
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Jiajie Xi
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai, 200092, China.
| | - Jiuhong Kang
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai, 200092, China.
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16
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Huang Q, Luo D, Chen L, Liang FX, Chen R. Effectiveness of Acupuncture for Alzheimer's Disease: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Curr Med Sci 2019; 39:500-511. [PMID: 31209824 DOI: 10.1007/s11596-019-2065-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2018] [Revised: 11/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Acupuncture has reportedly improved memory and cognitive impairment in both animal and clinical studies. It may be an effective treatment for Alzheimer's disease (AD). The purpose of this meta-analysis was to review the effectiveness of acupuncture for the treatment of AD. Eight databases were searched for articles published up to and including July 2017, and 13 studies fulfilling the inclusion criteria were identified. The main outcomes assessed were clinical efficacy rate, Mini-Mental State Examination score, Ability of Daily Living Scale score, Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-Cognition score, Hasegawa's Dementia Scale (HDS) score, and adverse events. The methodological quality of the articles was assessed using Cochrane's risk of bias. All the studies compared the efficacy of acupuncture with that of medication, and were published in Chinese journals. Meta-analysis revealed that acupuncture yielded positive results as determined via all the indexes scored except the HDS (95% CI -0.26 to 0.90, Z=0.35, P=0.73). Only one of the studies reported adverse events associated with acupuncture and medication. The rate of adverse events in the medication group was 13%. In most of the studies assessed in the current meta-analysis, acupuncture alone was better than conventional western medicines for the treatment of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Huang
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, 430061, China
| | - Dan Luo
- Department of Integrated TCM and Western Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Li Chen
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, 430061, China
| | - Feng-Xia Liang
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, 430061, China.
| | - Rui Chen
- Department of Integrated TCM and Western Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China.
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17
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Zhang J, Tang C, Liao W, Zhu M, Liu M, Sun N. The antiapoptotic and antioxidative stress effects of Zhisanzhen in the Alzheimer's disease model rat. Neuroreport 2019; 30:628-636. [PMID: 31095002 DOI: 10.1097/wnr.0000000000001243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Zhisanzhen, a type of acupuncture method, has been commonly used in the treatment of various neurodegenerative disorders in clinics in China. The aim of this study was to confirm the effect of Zhisanzhen on Alzheimer's disease and the associated mechanism. We used D-galactose and Aβ1-40 injections to establish a rat model of AD. Rats were divided into four groups: normal group, AD group, AD+manual acupuncture (control) group, and AD+manual acupuncture (Zhisanzhen) group. Zhisanzhen was used to treat the AD model rats. We found that Zhisanzhen improved behavioral performance, reduced oxidative stress, increased the neurotransmitter acetylcholine concentration, reduced apoptosis in hippocampal neurons, and down-regulated the expression of apoptosis-related genes and proteins. Compared with those in the AD group, these parameters were clearly different in the Zhisanzhen control group (P<0.05). These results suggest that Zhisanzhen can markedly enhance learning and memory and reverse the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease in AD model rats, which may be related to the role of Zhisanzhen in increasing chAT and Ache activity, decreasing oxidative stress and inhibiting neuronal apoptosis.Video abstract: http://links.lww.com/WNR/A517.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianguo Zhang
- RuiKang Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning
| | - Chunzhi Tang
- Clinical Medical College of Acupuncture, Moxibustion and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
| | - Wenyan Liao
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau
| | - Mingmin Zhu
- Traditional Chinese Medical College of Jinan University, Guangzhou
| | - Ming Liu
- Shenzhen Baoan Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen
| | - Ningning Sun
- Jiaozuo Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Henan, China
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18
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Ding N, Jiang J, Xu A, Tang Y, Li Z. Manual Acupuncture Regulates Behavior and Cerebral Blood Flow in the SAMP8 Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:37. [PMID: 30766475 PMCID: PMC6365452 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.00037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2018] [Accepted: 01/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: A growing body of evidence has demonstrated that cerebrovascular function abnormality plays a key role in occurrence and worsening of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Reduction of cerebral blood flow (CBF) is a sensitive marker to early perfusion deficiencies in AD. As one of the most important therapies in complementary and alternative medicine, manual acupuncture (MA) has been used in the treatment of AD. However, the moderating effect of MA on CBF remains largely unknown. Objective: To investigate the effect of MA on the behavior and CBF of SAMP8 mice. Methods: SAMP8 mice were randomly divided into the AD, MA, and medicine (M) groups, with SAMR1 mice used as the normal control (N) group. Mice in the M group were treated with donepezil hydrochloride at 0.65 μg/g. In the MA group, MA was applied at Baihui (GV20) and Yintang (GV29) for 20 min. The above treatments were administered once a day for 15 consecutive days. The Morris water maze and arterial spin labeling MRI were used to assess spatial learning and memory in behavior and CBF respectively. Results: Compared with the AD group, both MA and donepezil significantly decreased the escape latency (p < 0.01), while also elevating platform crossover number and the percentage of time and swimming distance in the platform quadrant (p < 0.01 or p < 0.05). The remarkable improvement in escape latency in the MA group appeared earlier than the M group, and no significant statistical significance was observed between the N and MA group with the exception of days 5 and 10. The CBF in the prefrontal lobe and hippocampus in the MA group was substantially higher than in the AD group (p < 0.05) with the exception of the right prefrontal lobe, with similar effects of donepezil. Conclusion: Manual acupuncture can effectively improve the spatial learning, relearning and memory abilities of SAMP8 mice. The increase in CBF in the prefrontal lobe and hippocampus could be an important mechanism for the beneficial cognitive effects of MA in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Ding
- School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Jiang
- School of Nursing, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Anping Xu
- School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Yinshan Tang
- Department of Rehabilitation in Traditional Chinese Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhigang Li
- School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
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Kao HR, Wang M, Yu S, Yuan S, Fung MY, Zhu L, Lam SW, Kao T, Kao X. Treatment effects of acupuncture and calligraphy training on cognitive abilities in senile demented patients. CHINESE MEDICINE AND CULTURE 2019. [DOI: 10.4103/cmac.cmac_18_19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
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20
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Modulation of functional activity and connectivity by acupuncture in patients with Alzheimer disease as measured by resting-state fMRI. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0196933. [PMID: 29763448 PMCID: PMC5953467 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0196933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2017] [Accepted: 04/23/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Acupuncture has been used in the therapy of Alzheimer disease (AD); however, its neural mechanisms are still unclear. The aim of this study is to examine the effect of acupuncture on the functional connectivity in AD by using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). Twenty-eight subjects (14 AD and 14 normal controls) participated in this study. The rs-fMRI data were acquired before and after acupuncture stimulation at the acupoints of Tai chong (Liv3) and Hegu (LI4). During the baseline resting state, by using the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF), we found a significantly decreased or increased ALFF in the AD patients relative to the controls. These regions were located in the right superior frontal gyrus (SFG), left postcentral gyrus, subgenual cingulate cortex (SCC), right middle cingulate cortex (MCC), right inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), right hippocampus and the right inferior temporal gyrus (ITG). Then, we selected these brain regions as seeds to investigate whether regional activity and functional connectivity could be modulated by acupuncture in the AD patients. When compared to the pre-acupuncture stage, several of the above regions showed an increased or decreased ALFF after acupuncture in the AD patients. In addition, the functional connectivity between the hippocampus and the precentral gyrus showed enhancement after acupuncture in the AD patients. Finally, there were close correlations between the functional activity, connectivity and clinical performance in the AD patients. The current study confirmed that acupuncture at Tai chong (Liv3) and He gu (LI4) can modulate functional activity and connectivity of specific cognition-related regions in AD patients.
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The Effect of Electroacupuncture versus Manual Acupuncture through the Expression of TrkB/NF- κB in the Subgranular Zone of the Dentate Gyrus of Telomerase-Deficient Mice. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2018; 2018:1013978. [PMID: 29849690 PMCID: PMC5937603 DOI: 10.1155/2018/1013978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2017] [Accepted: 03/07/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Our previous study showed that the acupuncture stimulation on the acupoint (ST-36) could activate the brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) signaling pathways in telomerase-deficient mice. Recently, we set out to investigate whether the manual acupuncture (MA) or electroacupuncture (EA) displays a therapeutic advantage on age-related deterioration of learning and memory. Both telomerase-deficient mice (Terc−/− group, n = 24) and wild-type mice (WT group, n = 24) were randomly assigned to 3 subgroups (CON, controls with no treatment; MA, mice receiving manual acupuncture; EA, mice receiving electric acupuncture). The mice were subjected to behavior test, and EA/MA were applied at bilateral acupoints (ST36) 30 min daily for 7 successive days. The brain tissues were collected after the last Morris water maze (MWM) test and were subjected to the immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis. The MWM test showed that EA can significantly increase the time in target quadrant (P ≤ 0.01) and frequency of locating platform for Terc−/− mice (P ≤ 0.05), while nothing changed in WT mice. Furthermore, western blotting and immunohistochemistry suggested that EA could also specifically increase the expression of TrkB and NF-κB in Terc−/− mice but not in wild-type mice (P ≤ 0.05). Meanwhile, the expression level and ratio of ERK/p-ERK did not exhibit significant changes in each subgroup. These results indicated that, compared with MA, the application of EA could specifically ameliorate the spatial learning and memory capability for telomerase-deficient mice through the activation of TrkB and NF-κB.
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22
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Kan BH, Yu JC, Zhao L, Zhao J, Li Z, Suo YR, Han JX. Acupuncture improves dendritic structure and spatial learning and memory ability of Alzheimer's disease mice. Neural Regen Res 2018; 13:1390-1395. [PMID: 30106051 PMCID: PMC6108219 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.235292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Acupuncture can improve the cognitive state of Alzheimer's disease, but its mechanism is not clear. Dendritic atrophy and synaptic loss in Alzheimer's disease brain are positively correlated with cognitive damage. Therefore, we speculated that the effect of acupuncture on improving cognitive function may be associated with reduced dendritic damage in the brain. Acupuncture at Qihai (CV6), Zhongwan (CV12), Danzhong (CV17), bilateral Zusanli (ST36), and bilateral Xuehai (SP10) acupoints was performed once a day (1-day rest after 6-day treatment) for 14 consecutive days. Senescence-accelerated mouse prone 8 (SAMP8) mice without acupuncture and senescence-accelerated mouse resistant 1 (SAMR1) mice were used as normal controls. After 14 days of treatment, spatial learning and memory ability of mice was assessed in each group using the Morris water maze. Dendritic changes of pyramidal cells in the hippocampal CA1 region were analyzed by quantitative Golgi staining. Our results showed that acupuncture shortened escape latency and lengthened retention time of the former platform quadrant in SAMP8 mice. Further, SAMP8 mice exhibited a significant increase in the number of apical and basal dendritic branches and total length of apical and basal dendrites after acupuncture. These results suggest that acupuncture improves spatial learning and memory ability of middle-aged SAMP8 mice by ameliorating dendritic structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo-Hong Kan
- First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Acupuncture & Moxibustion Science, Tianjin, China
| | - Jian-Chun Yu
- First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Lan Zhao
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Acupuncture & Moxibustion Science; Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Research, Tianjin, China
| | - Jie Zhao
- First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Zhen Li
- First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine; Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Research, Tianjin, China
| | - Yan-Rong Suo
- Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Jing-Xian Han
- First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine; Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Research, Tianjin, China
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23
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Xiao LY, Wang XR, Yang Y, Yang JW, Cao Y, Ma SM, Li TR, Liu CZ. Applications of Acupuncture Therapy in Modulating Plasticity of Central Nervous System. Neuromodulation 2017; 21:762-776. [PMID: 29111577 DOI: 10.1111/ner.12724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2017] [Revised: 09/25/2017] [Accepted: 09/26/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Acupuncture is widely applied for treatment of various neurological disorders. This manuscript will review the preclinical evidence of acupuncture in mediating neural plasticity, the mechanisms involved. MATERIALS AND METHODS We searched acupuncture, plasticity, and other potential related words at the following sites: PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and VIP information data base. The following keywords were used: acupuncture, electroacupuncture, plasticity, neural plasticity, neuroplasticity, neurogenesis, neuroblast, stem cell, progenitor cell, BrdU, synapse, synapse structure, synaptogenesis, axon, axon regeneration, synaptic plasticity, LTP, LTD, neurotrophin, neurotrophic factor, BDNF, GDNF, VEGF, bFGF, EGF, NT-3, NT-4, NT-5, p75NTR, neurotransmitter, acetylcholine, norepinephrine, noradrenaline, dopamine, monamine. We assessed the effects of acupuncture on plasticity under pathological conditions in this review. RESULTS Relevant references were reviewed and presented to reflect the effects of acupuncture on neural plasticity. The acquired literatures mainly focused on neurogenesis, alterations of synapses, neurotrophins (NTs), and neurotranimitters. Acupuncture methods mentioned in this article include manual acupuncture and electroacupuncture. CONCLUSIONS The cumulative evidences demonstrated that acupuncture could induce neural plasticity in rodents exposed to cerebral ischemia. Neural plasticity mediated by acupuncture in other neural disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and depression, were also investigated and there is evidence of positive role of acupuncture induced plasticity in these disorders as well. Mediation of neural plasticity by acupuncture is likely associated with its modulation on NTs and neurotransmitters. The exact mechanisms underlying acupuncture's effects on neural plasticity remain to be elucidated. Neural plasticity may be the potential bridge between acupuncture and the treatment of various neurological diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling-Yong Xiao
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.,Acupuncture and Moxibustion Department, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing Key Laboratory of Acupuncture Neuromodulation, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xue-Rui Wang
- Acupuncture and Moxibustion Department, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing Key Laboratory of Acupuncture Neuromodulation, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Ye Yang
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Jing-Wen Yang
- Acupuncture and Moxibustion Department, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing Key Laboratory of Acupuncture Neuromodulation, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yan Cao
- Acupuncture and Moxibustion Department, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing Key Laboratory of Acupuncture Neuromodulation, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Si-Ming Ma
- Acupuncture and Moxibustion Department, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing Key Laboratory of Acupuncture Neuromodulation, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Tian-Ran Li
- Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Cun-Zhi Liu
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
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24
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Luo B, Zhao L, Zhang X, Kan B, Liu Y, Jia Y, Han J, Yu J. Acupuncture upregulates G protein coupled activity in SAMP8 mice. Acupunct Med 2017; 35:289-296. [PMID: 28450287 DOI: 10.1136/acupmed-2016-011139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/30/2016] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Transmembrane and intracellular signal transduction of G protein is closely related to the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD). OBJECTIVE To explore the effects of Sanjiao acupuncture on G protein signal transduction pathways in the pathogenesis of AD. METHODS 36 senescence-accelerated (SAM) prone 8 mice were divided into three groups that remained untreated (SAMP8, n=12) or received Sanjiao acupuncture (SAMP8+SA, n=12) or control acupuncture (SAMP8+CA, n=12). An additional control group of SAM resistant 1 mice was included (SAMR1 group, n=12). Morris water maze tests were used to investigate learning and memory abilities. Immunoprecipitation and Western blotting were used to study expression of G protein subunits and their activities in the cortex/hippocampus. RESULTS Behavioural analysis showed that acupuncture attenuated the severe cognitive deficits observed in untreated/CA-treated SAMP8 mice. The findings of the G protein activation assays via immunoprecipitation and Western blots were that the physiologically coupled activation rate (PCAR) and maximal coupled activation rate (MCAR) of Gαs and Gαi were decreased in the cortex of SAMP8 vs SAMR1 mice. Sanjiao acupuncture induced an upregulation in the PCAR of Gαs and Gαi. In the hippocampus of untreated SAMP8 mice, the PCAR of Gαs and MCAR of both Gαs and Gαi declined, and Sanjiao acupuncture was associated with an upregulation in the MCAR of Gαs and Gαi. There were no significant differences in Gαs and Gαi expression between the groups. CONCLUSIONS Sanjiao acupuncture attenuates cognitive deficits in a mouse model of AD via upregulation of G protein activity and stabilisation of the cellular signal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benhua Luo
- First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.,Guangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanning, China.,Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Lan Zhao
- First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.,Tianjin Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
| | - Xuezhu Zhang
- First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.,Tianjin Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
| | - Bohong Kan
- First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.,Tianjin Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
| | - Yunhe Liu
- First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Yujie Jia
- First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.,Tianjin Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
| | - Jingxian Han
- First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Jianchun Yu
- First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
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25
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Musical Electroacupuncture May Be a Better Choice than Electroacupuncture in a Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease. Neural Plast 2016; 2016:3131586. [PMID: 27974974 PMCID: PMC5128719 DOI: 10.1155/2016/3131586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2016] [Revised: 09/17/2016] [Accepted: 10/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives. To compare musical electroacupuncture and electroacupuncture in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Methods. In this study, 7.5-month-old male senescence-accelerated mouse prone 8 (SAMP8) mice were used as an Alzheimer's disease animal model. In the normal control paradigm, 7.5-month-old male SAMR1 mice were used as the blank control group (N group). After 15 days of treatment, using Morris water maze test, micro-PET, and immunohistochemistry, the differences among the musical electroacupuncture (MEA), electroacupuncture (EA), Alzheimer's disease (AD), and normal (N) groups were assessed. Results. The Morris water maze test, micro-PET, and immunohistochemistry revealed that MEA and EA therapies could improve spatial learning and memory ability, glucose metabolism level in the brain, and Aβ amyloid content in the frontal lobe, compared with the AD group (P < 0.05). Moreover, MEA therapy performed better than EA treatment in decreasing amyloid-beta levels in the frontal lobe of mice with AD. Conclusion. MEA therapy may be superior to EA in treating Alzheimer's disease as demonstrated in SAMP8 mice.
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26
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Zhao L, Zhou C, Li L, Liu J, Shi H, Kan B, Li Z, Li Y, Han J, Yu J. Acupuncture Improves Cerebral Microenvironment in Mice with Alzheimer's Disease Treated with Hippocampal Neural Stem Cells. Mol Neurobiol 2016; 54:5120-5130. [PMID: 27558235 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-016-0054-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2016] [Accepted: 08/11/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Transplantation with neural stem cells (NSCs) is a promising clinical therapy for Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the final fate of grafted NSCs is mainly determined by the host microenvironment. Therefore, this study investigated the role of Sanjiao acupuncture in the NSCs-treated hippocampus of a mouse model, senescence-accelerated mouse prone 8 (SAMP8) using Western blot, real-time fluorescent PCR, and immunofluorescence techniques. Meanwhile, we developed a co-culture model of hippocampal tissue specimens and NSCs in vitro, to observe the effects of acupuncture on survival, proliferation and differentiation of grafted NSCs using flow cytometry. Results showed that acupuncture pre- and post-NSCs transplantation significantly improved senescence-induced cognitive dysfunction (P < 0.05); upregulated the expression of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) (P < 0.05); and also increased the count of neuron-specific nuclear protein (NeuN)- and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-positive cells (P < 0.05). Therapeutic acupuncture may regulate the cytokine levels associated with survival, proliferation, and differentiation of NSCs in hippocampal microenvironment, to promote the repair of damaged cells, resulting in improved cognitive performance in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lan Zhao
- First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 300193, China. .,Tianjin Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, 300193, China.
| | - Chunlei Zhou
- Tianjin First Center Hospital, Tianjin, 300192, China
| | - Li Li
- First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 300193, China.,Tianjin Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, 300193, China
| | - Jianwei Liu
- Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 300193, China
| | - Huiyan Shi
- First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 300193, China.,Tianjin Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, 300193, China
| | - Bohong Kan
- First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 300193, China.,Tianjin Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, 300193, China
| | - Zhen Li
- First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 300193, China.,Tianjin Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, 300193, China
| | - Yunzhu Li
- Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 300193, China
| | - Jingxian Han
- First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 300193, China
| | - Jianchun Yu
- First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 300193, China.
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27
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Huang KY, Liang S, Yu ML, Fu SP, Chen X, Lu SF. A systematic review and meta-analysis of acupuncture for improving learning and memory ability in animals. Altern Ther Health Med 2016; 16:297. [PMID: 27543143 PMCID: PMC4992193 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-016-1298-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2016] [Accepted: 08/17/2016] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Background Memory loss is the most prominent symptoms of brain aging, but there is currently no evidence-based treatment strategy. Acupuncture has been widely used in China and the effectiveness for improving learning and memory has been mentioned in previous studies. We conducted this systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture for improving learning and memory in animal experiments. Methods We searched Pubmed, Embase, Ovid Medline(R), the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chinese Science and Technology Periodical Database (VIP) and Wanfang data Information Site to collect studies published up to December 2015. Study quality for each included article was evaluated according to the CAMARADES 10-item checklist. Outcome measure is Morris water maze. A meta-analysis was conducted according to the Cochrane systematic review method by using RevMan 5.3 software. Results Forty-two studies involving 944 animals were included. The quality score of the studies ranged from 2 to 8, with a mean of 5.3. Meta-analysis results showed that 24 studies reported significant effect of acupuncture for decreasing escape latency (−3.00, 95 % CI: −3.78 ~ −2.23, P < 0.00001), 14 studies reported significant effect of acupuncture for increasing frequency of cross platform (2.57, 95 % CI: 1.92 ~ 3.22, P < 0.00001), and 7 studies reported significant effect of acupuncture for increasing time in target quadrant (2.00, 95 % CI: 1.10 ~ 2.91, P < 0.00001) compared with the control group. Conclusions These findings show acupuncture has a potential role in improving learning and memory ability in animal models, suggesting it as a candidate therapy for memory loss of aged brain.
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28
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Zhang M, Xv GH, Wang WX, Meng DJ, Ji Y. Electroacupuncture improves cognitive deficits and activates PPAR-γ in a rat model of Alzheimer's disease. Acupunct Med 2016; 35:44-51. [PMID: 27401747 DOI: 10.1136/acupmed-2015-010972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an age-associated neurodegenerative disorder that is associated with a progressive impairment of cognition. Acupuncture has protective effects, although the molecular mechanisms are largely unknown. The activation of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ (PPAR-γ) has an impact on the pathogenesis of AD. OBJECTIVE To test the hypothesis that electroacupuncture (EA) confers therapeutic benefits through activation of PPAR-γ in a rat model of AD. METHODS 80 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups (n=20 each): Control (healthy control group), Sham (sham-operated group), AD (untreated AD model group), and AD+EA (AD model group treated with EA). The AD model was induced in the latter two groups by injection of amyloid-β (Aβ)1-40 into the hippocampal CA1 area bilaterally. EA was administered at GV20 and BL23 six times per week for 4 weeks. The rats' behaviour was examined using the Morris water maze test, and protein expression of Aβ, hyperphosphorylated tau protein (p-Tau), PPAR-γ, and hyperphosphorylated p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (p38MAPK) in the hippocampal CA1 region was examined by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. RESULTS EA significantly improved cognitive deficits and reduced Aβ and p-Tau Ser404 protein concentrations in the hippocampal CA1 region. AD decreased PPAR-γ and increased p-p38MAPK, while EA significantly upregulated PPAR-γ expression and significantly downregulated p-p38MAPK expression. CONCLUSIONS Acupuncture at GV20 and BL23 might have a beneficial effect on rats with AD via activation of PPAR-γ and inhibition of p-p38MAPK expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Zhang
- Nursing College, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China.,Medical College of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Gui-Hua Xv
- Nursing College, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Wei-Xin Wang
- Department of General Surgery, the Affiliated People's Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Di-Juan Meng
- Nursing College, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Yan Ji
- Nursing College, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
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29
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Ma D, Zhu Y, Li Y, Yang C, Zhang L, Li Y, Li L, Zhang L. Beneficial effects of cornel iridoid glycoside on behavioral impairment and senescence status in SAMP8 mice at different ages. Behav Brain Res 2016; 312:20-9. [PMID: 27283974 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2016.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2016] [Revised: 06/01/2016] [Accepted: 06/05/2016] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of cornel iridoid glycoside (CIG) on behavioral changes and senescent status in senescence-accelerated mouse-prone 8 (SAMP8) mice at different ages (6, 10, and 14 months old). The learning and memory ability, the motor function and the aging conditions of SAMP8 mice were evaluated after CIG treatment in this study. Results showed that intragastrical administration of CIG (100 and 200mg/kg) for two months obviously improved the impaired cognitive ability of SAMP8 mice at the age of 6 months and 10 months, respectively. The treatment with CIG significantly increased the motor function of SAMP8 mice at 10 months and 14 months of age, respectively. CIG also evidently decreased the high grading score of senescence and increased the low surviving rate of SAMP8 mice at the age of 14 months. In addition, CIG treatment inhibited tau hyperphosphorylation in the hippocampus and striatum of SAMP8 mice at different ages. Together, these results indicate that CIG represent a potentially useful treatment for ameliorating the impaired cognitive ability, the motor dysfunction, aging conditions and hyperphosphorylation of tau in aging and age-related neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denglei Ma
- Department of Pharmacology, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing Engineering Research Center for Nerve System Drugs, Key Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Diseases of Ministry of Education, Beijing 100053, China
| | - Yanqiu Zhu
- Department of Pharmacology, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing Engineering Research Center for Nerve System Drugs, Key Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Diseases of Ministry of Education, Beijing 100053, China
| | - Yanzheng Li
- Department of Pharmacology, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing Engineering Research Center for Nerve System Drugs, Key Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Diseases of Ministry of Education, Beijing 100053, China
| | - Cuicui Yang
- Department of Pharmacology, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing Engineering Research Center for Nerve System Drugs, Key Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Diseases of Ministry of Education, Beijing 100053, China
| | - Li Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing Engineering Research Center for Nerve System Drugs, Key Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Diseases of Ministry of Education, Beijing 100053, China
| | - Yali Li
- Department of Pharmacology, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing Engineering Research Center for Nerve System Drugs, Key Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Diseases of Ministry of Education, Beijing 100053, China
| | - Lin Li
- Department of Pharmacology, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing Engineering Research Center for Nerve System Drugs, Key Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Diseases of Ministry of Education, Beijing 100053, China.
| | - Lan Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing Engineering Research Center for Nerve System Drugs, Key Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Diseases of Ministry of Education, Beijing 100053, China.
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30
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Guo HD, Zhu J, Tian JX, Shao SJ, Xu YW, Mou FF, Han XJ, Yu ZH, Chen JL, Zhang DY, Zhang LS, Cui GH. Electroacupuncture improves memory and protects neurons by regulation of the autophagy pathway in a rat model of Alzheimer's disease. Acupunct Med 2016; 34:449-456. [PMID: 26895770 DOI: 10.1136/acupmed-2015-010894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/23/2016] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acupuncture is a potential therapy for Alzheimer's disease (AD), but its clinical effects and underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Emerging evidence suggests autophagy is involved in β-amyloid (Aβ) clearance. We hypothesised that electroacupuncture (EA) treatment of AD involves the autophagy pathway in rats. METHODS We injected 2μl Aβ1-40 bilaterally into the hippocampi of 42 rats to establish AD. Rats remained untreated (AD group, n=14) or received 24 EA treatments at GV20+BL23 over 28 days from day 7 post-injection with/without co-treatment with 3-methyladenine (3-MA), an autophagy inhibitor (AD+EA+3-MA and AD+EA groups, respectively, n=14 each). Cognitive function was evaluated by Morris water maze (MWM) testing. Hippocampi were examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and stained with haematoxylin and eosin/transferase dUTP nick end labelling (TUNEL) to assess neuronal morphology/apoptosis, respectively. Protein expression of Beclin-1, LC3 and Aβ1-40 was examined. RESULTS In the MWM test, the AD+EA group showed an improvement in parameters consistent with improved learning/memory compared to untreated AD rats, and 3-MA attenuated these effects. EA mitigated cellular apoptosis resulting from Aβ infusion in the CA1 region and enhanced LC3II/LC3I ratios and Beclin-1 expression. Numerous autophagosome precursors and enlarged autophagosomes were observed by TEM in the hippocampi of EA-treated rats. Reduced Aβ levels, and co-localisation of Aβ and LC3II, were observed following EA treatment by immunofluorescence staining. EA+3-MA treated rats had much higher TUNEL-positive neurons, lower LC3II/LC3I ratios and Beclin-1 expression, and elevated Aβ levels compared with EA alone. CONCLUSIONS EA reduces neuronal apoptosis, enhances degradation of Aβ, and improves learning/memory in AD rats by upregulating the autophagy pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai-Dong Guo
- Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jing Zhu
- Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jin-Xin Tian
- Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Shui-Jin Shao
- Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yan-Wu Xu
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Basic Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Fang-Fang Mou
- Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiao-Jing Han
- Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhi-Hua Yu
- Central Laboratory, Shanghai Geriatric Institute of Chinese Medicine, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiu-Lin Chen
- Central Laboratory, Shanghai Geriatric Institute of Chinese Medicine, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Da-Yong Zhang
- Zhejiang University City College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Li-Sheng Zhang
- Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Guo-Hong Cui
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai No. 9 People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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31
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Dong W, Quo W, Wang F, Li C, Xie Y, Zheng X, Shi H. Electroacupuncture Upregulates SIRT1-Dependent PGC-1α Expression in SAMP8 Mice. Med Sci Monit 2015; 21:3356-62. [PMID: 26530101 PMCID: PMC4638282 DOI: 10.12659/msm.894864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Abnormalities of brain energy metabolism are involved in Alzheimer disease (AD). Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) is a class III histone deacetylase and activates peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ co-activator-1α (PGC-1α), which enhances mitochondrial biogenesis and energy homeostasis. Electroacupuncture (EA) has been reported to improve brain energy metabolism in AD. However, the effect of EA on SIRT1 and PGC-1α in AD remains unclear. Material/Methods ATP levels were measured using assay kits in the hippocampus and frontal cortex of senescence-accelerated mouse prone 8 (SAMP8) mice. Western blotting analysis and quantitative real-time RT-PCR were performed to measure the expression of SIRT1 and PGC-1α in the hippocampus of SAMP8 mice. PGC-1α acetylation was analyzed using immunoprecipitation. Results Compared with senescence-accelerated resistant mice 1 (SAMR1) mice, SAMP8 mice had a decline in ATP levels and the expression of SIRT1 and PGC-1α. EA treatment improved ATP levels, upregulated the expression of SIRT1 and PGC-1α, and decreased PGC-1α acetylation. Conclusions These data suggest that EA improved brain energy metabolism, potentially associated with the upregulation of SIRT1-dependent PGC-1α expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiguo Dong
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian, China (mainland)
| | - Wanqing Quo
- The Third People's Hospital of Fujian Province, Fuzhou, Fujian, China (mainland)
| | - Feng Wang
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian, China (mainland)
| | - Changzheng Li
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian, China (mainland)
| | - Yongcai Xie
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian, China (mainland)
| | - Xuehua Zheng
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian, China (mainland)
| | - Hong Shi
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian, China (mainland)
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32
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Dong WG, Wang F, Chen Y, Zheng XH, Xie YC, Guo WQ, Shi H. Electroacupuncture Reduces Aβ Production and BACE1 Expression in SAMP8 Mice. Front Aging Neurosci 2015; 7:148. [PMID: 26283960 PMCID: PMC4518199 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2015.00148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2015] [Accepted: 07/15/2015] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Electroacupuncture (EA) has been reported to have beneficial effects on Alzheimer’s disease (AD). BACE1 (β-site amyloid precursor protein-cleaving enzyme 1) is involved in the abnormal production of amyloid-β plaque (Aβ), a hallmark of AD pathophysiology. Thus, the present study investigated the effects of EA on memory impairment, Aβ production, and BACE1 expression in senescence-accelerated mouse prone 8 (SAMP8) mice. We found that EA improved spatial learning and memory impairment of SAMP8 mice. Furthermore, EA attenuated Aβ production and repressed the expression of BACE1 in the hippocampus of SAMP8 mice. Taken together, our results suggest that EA could have a potential therapeutic application in AD and that BACE1 may be an important target of EA in the treatment of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Guo Dong
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine , Fuzhou , China
| | - Feng Wang
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine , Fuzhou , China
| | - Ye Chen
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine , Fuzhou , China
| | - Xue-Hua Zheng
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine , Fuzhou , China
| | - Yong-Cai Xie
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine , Fuzhou , China
| | - Wan-Qing Guo
- The Third People's Hospital of Fujian Province , Fuzhou , China
| | - Hong Shi
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine , Fuzhou , China
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33
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Dong W, Guo W, Zheng X, Wang F, Chen Y, Zhang W, Shi H. Electroacupuncture improves cognitive deficits associated with AMPK activation in SAMP8 mice. Metab Brain Dis 2015; 30:777-84. [PMID: 25502012 DOI: 10.1007/s11011-014-9641-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2014] [Accepted: 12/05/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Perturbations of brain energy metabolism are involved in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Adenosine monophosphate-activated kinase (AMPK) is a master energy sensor that monitors the levels of key energy metabolites. Electroacupuncture (EA) has demonstrated therapeutic potential for the treatment of AD. The effects of EA on cognitive functions and the changes of AMPK and its phosphorylated form (p-AMPK) expression were investigated in senescence-accelerated mouse prone 8 (SAMP8) mice. Cognitive function of SAMP8 mice was assessed using Morris water maze test after EA treatment. Then mice were sacrificed for immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis. EA stimulation significantly alleviated memory impairment of AD mice, and increased the levels of p-AMPK in the hippocampus. These results suggest that EA improved cognitive function associated with AMPK activation, AMPK may be a molecular target of EA in treating AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiguo Dong
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350122, Peoples Republic of China,
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Electroacupuncture Suppressed Neuronal Apoptosis and Improved Cognitive Impairment in the AD Model Rats Possibly via Downregulation of Notch Signaling Pathway. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2015; 2015:393569. [PMID: 25810743 PMCID: PMC4355557 DOI: 10.1155/2015/393569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2014] [Accepted: 02/11/2015] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Acupuncture is a potential strategy for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and the possible mechanisms worth to be explored. In this study, we proposed and tested the hypothesis that whether Notch signaling pathway is involved in the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) treatment. Rats that received EA treatment on the acupoints of Baihui (Du 20) and Shenshu (BL 23) had shorter latency and remained in the original platform quadrant longer and crossed the former platform contained quadrant more frequently compared to the Aβ injection rats without EA treatment. EA obviously alleviated the cell apoptosis resulted by Aβ infusion in hippocampus CA1 regions through upregulating the expression of Bcl-2 and downregulating the expression of Bax. EA could further obviously promote the expression of synapsin-1 and synaptophysin in hippocampus. Aβ injection significantly increased the expression of Notch1, Jag1, and Hes1 mRNA, while EA treatment downregulated the level of Notch1 and Hes1 mRNA in hippocampus, but not Jag1 mRNA. Our data suggested that EA treatment improved learning and memory function in the AD rat model partially through downregulating Notch signaling pathway.
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Yang S, Ye H, Huang J, Tao J, Jiang C, Lin Z, Zheng G, Chen L. The synergistic effect of acupuncture and computer-based cognitive training on post-stroke cognitive dysfunction: a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial of 2 × 2 factorial design. BMC COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2014; 14:290. [PMID: 25099775 PMCID: PMC4133058 DOI: 10.1186/1472-6882-14-290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2014] [Accepted: 07/30/2014] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Background Stroke is one of the most common causes of cognitive impairment. Up to 75% of stroke survivors may be considered to have cognitive impairment, which severely limit individual autonomy for successful reintegration into family, work and social life. The clinical efficacy of acupuncture with Baihui (DU20) and Shenting (DU24) in stroke and post-stroke cognitive impairment has been previously demonstrated. Computer-assisted cognitive training is part of conventional cognitive rehabilitation and has also shown to be effective in improvement of cognitive function of affected patients. However, the cognitive impairment after stroke is so complexity that one single treatment cannot resolve effectively. Besides, the effects of acupuncture and RehaCom cognitive training have not been systematically compared, nor has the possibility of a synergistic effect of combination of the two therapeutic modalities been evaluated. Our primary aim of this trial is to evaluate the synergistic effect of acupuncture and RehaCom cognitive training on cognitive dysfunction after stroke. Method/Design A randomized controlled trial of 2 × 2 factorial design will be conducted in the Rehabilitation Hospital Affiliated to Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. A total of 240 patients with cognitive dysfunction after stroke who meet the eligibility criteria will be recruited and randomized into RehaCom training group, acupuncture group, a combination of both or control group in a 1:1:1:1 ratio. All patients will receive conventional treatment. The interventions will last for 12 weeks (30 min per day, Monday to Friday every week). Evaluations will be conducted by blinded assessors at baseline and again at 4, 8 and 12 weeks. Outcome measurements include mini–mental state examination (MMSE), Montreal cognitive assessments (MoCA), functional independence measure scale (FIM) and adverse events. Discussion The results of this trial are expected to clarify the synergistic effect of acupuncture and RehaCom cognitive training on cognitive dysfunction after stroke. Furthermore, to confirm whether combined or alone of acupuncture and RehaCom cognitive training, is more effective than conventional treatment in the management of post-stroke cognitive dysfunction. Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry: ChiCTR-TRC-13003704. Registration date: 4 September, 2013.
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36
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Cheng XR, Zhou WX, Zhang YX. The behavioral, pathological and therapeutic features of the senescence-accelerated mouse prone 8 strain as an Alzheimer's disease animal model. Ageing Res Rev 2014; 13:13-37. [PMID: 24269312 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2013.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2013] [Revised: 10/10/2013] [Accepted: 10/30/2013] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a widespread and devastating progressive neurodegenerative disease. Disease-modifying treatments remain beyond reach, and the etiology of the disease is uncertain. Animal model are essential for identifying disease mechanisms and developing effective therapeutic strategies. Research on AD is currently being carried out in rodent models. The most common transgenic mouse model mimics familial AD, which accounts for a small percentage of cases. The senescence-accelerated mouse prone 8 (SAMP8) strain is a spontaneous animal model of accelerated aging. Many studies indicate that SAMP8 mice harbor the behavioral and histopathological signatures of AD, namely AD-like cognitive and behavioral alterations, neuropathological phenotypes (neuron and dendrite spine loss, spongiosis, gliosis and cholinergic deficits in the forebrain), β-amyloid deposits resembling senile plaques, and aberrant hyperphosphorylation of Tau-like neurofibrillary tangles. SAMP8 mice are useful in the development of novel therapies, and many pharmacological agents and approaches are effective in SAMP8 mice. SAMP8 mice are considered a robust model for exploring the etiopathogenesis of sporadic AD and a plausible experimental model for developing preventative and therapeutic treatments for late-onset/age-related AD, which accounts for the vast majority of cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-rui Cheng
- Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Wen-xia Zhou
- Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, China.
| | - Yong-xiang Zhang
- Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, China.
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Molecular imaging in traditional Chinese medicine therapy for neurological diseases. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2013; 2013:608430. [PMID: 24222911 PMCID: PMC3814075 DOI: 10.1155/2013/608430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2013] [Accepted: 08/21/2013] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
With the speeding tendency of aging society, human neurological disorders have posed an ever increasing threat to public health care. Human neurological diseases include ischemic brain injury, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and spinal cord injury, which are induced by impairment or specific degeneration of different types of neurons in central nervous system. Currently, there are no more effective treatments against these diseases. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is focused on, which can provide new strategies for the therapy in neurological disorders. TCM, including Chinese herb medicine, acupuncture, and other nonmedication therapies, has its unique therapies in treating neurological diseases. In order to improve the treatment of these disorders by optimizing strategies using TCM and evaluate the therapeutic effects, we have summarized molecular imaging, a new promising technology, to assess noninvasively disease specific in cellular and molecular levels of living models in vivo, that was applied in TCM therapy for neurological diseases. In this review, we mainly focus on applying diverse molecular imaging methodologies in different TCM therapies and monitoring neurological disease, and unveiling the mysteries of TCM.
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Zeng BY, Salvage S, Jenner P. Effect and mechanism of acupuncture on Alzheimer's disease. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF NEUROBIOLOGY 2013; 111:181-95. [PMID: 24215923 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-411545-3.00009-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia diagnosed in the aging population worldwide. The cause of Alzheimer's is still not clear. There is no cure for the disease and current treatments are only symptomatic relieve. The search for new treatment is made ever more urgent due to increasing population aging. Acupuncture has been in practice in China for more than 3000 years and used to treat a wide variety of conditions including cardiovascular and psychiatric diseases, acute, and chronic pain. In this chapter, we review recent development on the effects and mechanisms of acupuncture on Alzheimer's disease. In Alzheimer's animal models, acupuncture stimulation at acupoints enhances cholinergic neurotransmission, trophic factor releasing, reduces apoptotic and oxidative damages, improves synaptic plasticity and decreases the levels of Aβ proteins in the hippocampus and relevant brain regions. The biochemical modulations by acupuncture in the brains of Alzheimer's models are correlated with the cognitive improvement. In Alzheimer's patients, functional brain images demonstrated that acupuncture increased in the activity in the temporal lobe and prefrontal lobe which are related to the memory and cognitive function. Although only a few acupuncture clinical studies with a small number of participants are reported, they represent an important step forward in the research of both acupuncture and Alzheimer's. Translation of acupuncture research in animal model studies into the human subjects will undoubtedly enhance acupuncture efficacy in clinical study and treatment which could eventually lead to a safer, well-tolerated and inexpensive form of care for Alzheimer's patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bai-Yun Zeng
- Neurodegenerative Disease Research Group, Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Biomedical Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.
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