Exploring the potential of acupuncture as a complementary treatment for Alzheimer's disease: Pushing the boundaries forward

Abstract

Acupuncture has emerged as a promising adjunctive symptomatic therapy for Alzheimer's disease, demonstrating potential benefits in cognitive function and neuroprotection. Recent meta-analyses and randomized clinical trials have investigated the potential of acupuncture to improve cognitive assessments, signaling pathways, and gut regulation in Alzheimer's disease, underscoring its potential clinical application. However, the limited number of studies, small sample sizes, and lack of detailed mapping of acupuncture's core targets must be considered when interpreting these positive results.