Feasibility and positive effects of scalp acupuncture for modulating motor and cerebral activity in Parkinson’s disease: A pilot study

Abstract

BACKGROUND: A variety of acupuncture therapies have shown efficacy in Parkinson’s disease (PD). OBJECTIVE: To evaluate scalp acupuncture (SA) effects on motor and cerebral activity by using gait equipment and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). METHODS: Twelve patients with PD received SA. They underwent the first functional-imaging scan after tactile stimulation and the second scan following needle removal. Gait test and local sensation assessment were performed immediately after each functional scan. Gait parameter differences between pre- and post-SA were analyzed using a paired t-test and altered brain areas in degree centrality (DC) and fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (fALFF) were identified between the two scans. RESULTS: Eight patients completed the experiment. Stride length, maximum ankle height, maximum ankle horizontal displacement, gait speed, and range of shank motion significantly increased post-treatment (P < 0.05). fALFF in left middle frontal gyrus and DC in left cerebellum (corrected) increased, while fALFF in left inferior parietal lobule (corrected) during SA decreased, compared with those in tactile stimulation. A positive correlation was observed between right limb swings and both fALFF areas. CONCLUSIONS: Differences in gait and brain analyses presented modulation to motor and brain activity in PD, thus, providing preliminary evidence for SA efficacy.

Parkinson's disease constipation effect of electroacupuncture at ST25 through colonic motility and enteric neuropathology

“…The efficacy of acupuncture in treating motor (12)(13)(14) and NMS, such as cognitive impairment (44), constipation (18,19), insomnia (17), pain (45), and anxiety (15) in patients with PD has been widely supported by studies. Alternative therapies are reported to be used by 40% of people with PD, with acupuncture being the third most commonly used alternative therapy for PD (46).…”

“…In recent years, acupuncture has received increasing attention as a noninvasive treatment method. A growing number of studies have investigated the effectiveness of acupuncture targeting PD and other related disorders, such as motor dysfunction (12)(13)(14), anxiety (15), depression (16), insomnia (17), and constipation (18,19), with some positive results. Although existing systematic evaluations and meta-analyses have shown conflicting results for acupuncture for PD constipation due to significant heterogeneity and small sample sizes (20)(21)(22)(23)(24), the fact that acupuncture was considered an effective or safe treatment for functional constipation and gastrointestinal disorders (25,26) in some randomized trials.…”