Efficacy and Safety of Auricular Acupuncture for Cognitive Impairment and Dementia: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Objectives To analyze the efficacy and safety of auricular acupuncture (AA) in patients with cognitive impairment and dementia. Methods Twelve electronic databases were searched for randomized controlled trials evaluating effects of AA in patients with cognitive impairment and/or dementia, from their inception to August 2017. The primary outcome was cognitive function, and secondary outcomes were self-care ability, quality of life, clinical efficacy rate, and incidences of adverse events. Results Nine studies were included, and five involving 677 participants were analyzed quantitatively. Compared with Western medications (WM), AA had mixed effects on cognitive functions (Mini-Mental State Examination [MMSE], mean difference [MD] 0.73, 95% confidence interval [CI] −0.02 to 1.48; Hierarchic Dementia Scale [HDS], MD 2.21, 95% CI 1.09 to 3.33); there was no significant improvement in the activities of daily living (ADL) score (MD 0.20, 95% CI −3.51 to 3.91) in patients with vascular dementia (VD). Compared to WM, AA combined with WM showed better clinical efficacy rate (risk ratio [RR] 1.42, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.91) in patients with VD; there was no significant improvement in cognitive functions (MMSE, MD 0.97, 95% CI −0.44 to 2.38; Montreal Cognitive Assessment [MoCA], MD 0.22, 95% CI −1.83 to 2.27) in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Compared to herbal medicine (HM), AA plus HM showed significant improvements in cognitive function (MMSE, MD 1.31, 95% CI 0.13 to 2.49) in patients with MCI and patients with vascular cognitive impairment, no dementia (VCIND) and in ADL score (MD −6.70, 95% CI −8.78 to −4.62) in patients with MCI. No adverse event associated with AA was reported. Conclusion The evidence reveals mixed efficacy of AA in patients with cognitive impairment and/or dementia. However, the results were inconclusive because of the small number and poor methodological quality of the included studies.

One-year visiting care service treatment with Korean medicine for a solitary elderly woman in a public health setting: A case report

“…Ear acupressure was applied to unilateral shenmen, kidney, heart, brain, and forehead points to improve cognitive function. 13 Sterile intradermal acupuncture needles (DongBang Acupuncture, 0.18 mm * 1.3 mm) were inserted, and she was instructed to perform self-acupressure for five sessions daily, 10 seconds for each acupoint per session, for a period of four to five days between visits. In the following visit, the existing needles were removed and new intradermal needles were attached to the acupuncture points on the contralateral ear.…”

Traditional Chinese medicine for mild cognitive impairment

“…[ 2 – 4 ] Population-based studies have found that the prevalence of MCI in elderly individuals (≥65 years) is 10% to 20%, with 5% to 10% of patients progressing to Alzheimer disease (AD) each year. [ 5 – 7 ] It is estimated that the prevalence of MCI is significantly increasing worldwide, and MCI increases the risk of progression to dementia. [ 8 ]…”

Effects of different acupuncture treatment methods on mild cognitive impairment: a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

“…Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is defined as a subjective and objective decline in cognition and function greater than expected for an individual’s age and education level, which neither meets the criteria for diagnosis as dementia nor is severe enough to interfere with activities of daily living (ADL) [1, 2]. MCI represents a significant risk factor for the development of dementia and is the primary target for early detection and management of dementia [3, 4].…”