Acupuncture for Parkinson’s Disease: Efficacy Evaluation and Mechanisms in the Dopaminergic Neural Circuit

Abstract

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a chronic and progressive neurodegenerative disease caused by degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. Existing pharmaceutical treatments offer alleviation of symptoms but cannot delay disease progression and are often associated with significant side effects. Clinical studies have demonstrated that acupuncture may be beneficial for PD treatment, particularly in terms of ameliorating PD symptoms when combined with anti-PD medication, reducing the required dose of medication and associated side effects. During early stages of PD, acupuncture may even be used to replace medication. It has also been found that acupuncture can protect dopaminergic neurons from degeneration via antioxidative stress, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic pathways as well as modulating the neurotransmitter balance in the basal ganglia circuit. Here, we review current studies and reflect on the potential of acupuncture as a novel and effective treatment strategy for PD. We found that particularly during the early stages, acupuncture may reduce neurodegeneration of dopaminergic neurons and regulate the balance of the dopaminergic circuit, thus delaying the progression of the disease. The benefits of acupuncture will need to be further verified through basic and clinical studies.

Effect of electroacupuncture for Pisa syndrome in Parkinson’s disease: A case report

“…Both chose the Backshu acupoints to condition the zang-fu and relax the spinal muscles, similar to our study. Additionally, researchers found that acupuncture may reduce neurodegeneration in dopaminergic neurons and regulate the balance of the dopaminergic circuit to delay the progression of PD[ 22 ]. As the mechanisms of PS are strongly associated with dopaminergic neural circuits[ 8 ], acupuncture may promote the lateral curvature of PS.…”

“…In this case, electroacupuncture improved the lateral curvature by relaxing the paraspinous muscles and balancing the dopaminergic circuit, thus preventing the curvature from developing into scoliosis which may cause disability or being bed-bound. The most important advantage of electroacupuncture is that it not only improves the lateral curvature but also delays the progression of PD[ 22 ]. Simultaneously, the cost of electroacupuncture is low and the manipulation is simple, reducing the economic burden on patients.…”

Research Progress on the Mechanism of Acupuncture Treatment for Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

“…It can be used to promote health or to treat disease via a variety of different techniques. These include hand acupuncture, electricity acupuncture, moxibustion, and finger pressure at specific anatomical positions (acupoints) [ 7 ]. Many different studies have shown that acupuncture can effectively treat NAFLD and that it has a powerful therapeutic effect on liver fat, glucolipid metabolism, and IR [ 8 ].…”

Effects of Qihuang Needling on Motor Function for Patients With Parkinson's Disease: Study Protocol for a Multicenter, Randomized Controlled Trial

“…As an adjuvant therapy, acupuncture is widely used in the treatment of PD, particularly in East Asia ( 7 ). Numerous clinical trials have shown that acupuncture could improve motor symptoms and the quality of sleep, reduce the dose and frequency of anti-PD drugs, and alleviate their side effects ( 8 – 11 ). However, none of these studies could verify whether the benefits are due to the efficacy of the treatment or as a result of the placebo effect ( 12 , 13 ).…”