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Tan TT, Wang D, Huang JK, Zhou XM, Yuan X, Liang JP, Yin L, Xie HL, Jia XY, Shi J, Wang F, Yang HB, Chen SJ. Modulatory effects of acupuncture on brain networks in mild cognitive impairment patients. Neural Regen Res 2017; 12:250-258. [PMID: 28400807 PMCID: PMC5361509 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.200808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Functional magnetic resonance imaging has been widely used to investigate the effects of acupuncture on neural activity. However, most functional magnetic resonance imaging studies have focused on acute changes in brain activation induced by acupuncture. Thus, the time course of the therapeutic effects of acupuncture remains unclear. In this study, 32 patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment were randomly divided into two groups, where they received either Tiaoshen Yizhi acupuncture or sham acupoint acupuncture. The needles were either twirled at Tiaoshen Yizhi acupoints, including Sishencong (EX-HN1), Yintang (EX-HN3), Neiguan (PC6), Taixi (KI3), Fenglong (ST40), and Taichong (LR3), or at related sham acupoints at a depth of approximately 15 mm, an angle of ± 60°, and a rate of approximately 120 times per minute. Acupuncture was conducted for 4 consecutive weeks, five times per week, on weekdays. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging indicated that connections between cognition-related regions such as the insula, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, thalamus, inferior parietal lobule, and anterior cingulate cortex increased after acupuncture at Tiaoshen Yizhi acupoints. The insula, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, and hippocampus acted as central brain hubs. Patients in the Tiaoshen Yizhi group exhibited improved cognitive performance after acupuncture. In the sham acupoint acupuncture group, connections between brain regions were dispersed, and we found no differences in cognitive function following the treatment. These results indicate that acupuncture at Tiaoshen Yizhi acupoints can regulate brain networks by increasing connectivity between cognition-related regions, thereby improving cognitive function in patients with mild cognitive impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting-Ting Tan
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shenzhen Baoan Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Dan Wang
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shenzhen Baoan Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Ju-Ke Huang
- Shenzhen Baoan Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Xiao-Mei Zhou
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shenzhen Baoan Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Xu Yuan
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shenzhen Baoan Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Jiu-Ping Liang
- Department of Radiology, Shenzhen Baoan Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Liang Yin
- Department of Radiology, Shenzhen Baoan Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Hong-Liang Xie
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shenzhen Baoan Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Xin-Yan Jia
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shenzhen Baoan Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Jiao Shi
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shenzhen Baoan Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Fang Wang
- Department of Neurology, Shenzhen Baoan Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
| | | | - Shang-Jie Chen
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shenzhen Baoan Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
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