The Efficacy and Underlying Mechanism of Moxibustion in Preventing Cognitive Impairment: A Systematic Review of Animal Studies

Abstract

Cognitive impairment is age-related and manageable only with early diagnosis and prevention. Moxibustion is widely accepted in East Asia as useful for preventing cognitive impairment. This systematic review of animal studies was conducted to verify the efficacy of moxibustion in preventing cognitive impairment and to elucidate the underlying mechanism. Randomized controlled animal trials that established the efficacy of moxibustion in preventing cognitive impairment were included in the analysis. Results of behavioral tests and the signaling pathways elucidated were extracted and a meta-analysis was conducted with the behavioral test results. The risk of bias was evaluated using 9 items, and reporting quality was evaluated using the ARRIVE (Animal Research: Reporting In Vivo Experiments) Guidelines Checklist. Ten trials involving 410 animals met the inclusion criteria. All studies reported the benefit of moxibustion in preventing cognitive deficits caused by Alzheimer's disease (AD). Among five studies using the Morris water maze test, a significant effect of moxibustion in decreasing the escape time was reported in three studies, increasing the crossing times in four studies, and prolonging the dwelling time in two studies. The effects of moxibustion were demonstrated to be mediated by an increase in the activity of neurotrophins and heat shock protein, modulation of the cell cycle, and suppression of apoptosis and inflammation. However, considering the small number of included studies, the lack of studies investigating entire signaling pathways, and a high risk of bias and low reporting quality, our results need to be confirmed through more detailed studies.

<p>Interventions for Post-Stroke Shoulder Pain: An Overview of Systematic Reviews</p>

“…30,65 Moxibustion is the application of heat to a part of the body through the burning of dried plant materials near the skin. 71 This study reported a statistically significant reduction in pain with the intervention (MD −2.75, 95% CI −3.64, −1.86). Risk of bias was assessed as being moderate for the included study; however, the number of participants was very low.…”

Moxibustion for cognitive impairment: A systematic review and meta-analysis of animal studies

“…Compared to our previous SR 22 investigating the efficacy of moxibustion in preventing cognitive impairment, this study is more focused on the therapeutic effects of moxibustion. In both SRs, moxibustion treatment improved the behavioral test scores, and suppression of apoptosis and inflammation appeared to be the common mechanism induced by moxibustion.…”

“…However, compared with acupuncture studies, the therapeutic efficacy of moxibustion for cognitive impairment has not been fully validated. Although a previous study has reported the action of moxibustion in preventing cognitive impairment, 22 information on the overall therapeutic effect of moxibustion was limited, as it was focused on prevention. This SR aimed to evaluate the efficacy of moxibustion in treating cognitive impairment through a meta-analysis of animal studies.…”

Effect of acupoint with moxa cone on 1H-MRS of hippocampus and posterior cingulate gyrus in patients with mild cognitive impairment

“…In addition, cholinesterase inhibitors have limited or no signi cant effects on cognitive function over the short term and may substantially increase adverse effects, based on a meta-analysis of 4 trials (1960 participants)and another meta-analysis of 9 trials (5149 participants).Consequently, cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine are not recommended for MCI treatment and there are currently no FDA-approved medications for MCI [44,45]. We have known a series of studies in men and animals that acupuncture and moxibustion can improve memory on AD or MCI [46][47][48]. Moxibustion could help prevent cognitive impairment, and prevention is currently the only suitable management technique for this disorder [49].…”