title: Acupuncture improves cognitive function: A systematic review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Acupuncture has been used as a treatment for cognitive impairment.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This review assesses clinical evidence for or against acupuncture as a treatment for cognitive impairment. This review also discusses the proposed mechanism(s) that could link acupuncture to improved cognitive function.
  
  
  METHODS
  We searched the literature using PolyUone search from its inception to January 2013, with full text available and language limited to English. Levels of evidence were examined using Oxford Centre for Evidence-based Medicine-Levels of Evidence (March, 2009).
  
  
  RESULTS
  TWELVE STUDIES MET THE INCLUSION CRITERIA: 3 human studies and 9 animal studies. Levels of evidence ranged from level 1b to level 5.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most animal studies demonstrated a positive effect of acupuncture on cognitive impairment. However, the results of human studies were inconsistent. Further high-quality human studies with greater statistical power are needed to determine the effectiveness of acupuncture and an optimal protocol.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China.
authors.forename: Mason Chin Pang
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China.
authors.forename: Ka Keung
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Yip
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China.
authors.forename: Chung Tsung
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China.
authors.forename: Ka Shun
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China.
authors.forename: Wai
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China.
authors.forename: Wing Lam
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Cambridge Regional College, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Amethyst King Man
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, and the State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, the University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China; GHM Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Kwok-Fai
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: So
keywords: acupuncture; cognition; cognitive; dementia; electroacupuncture; learning; memory; neural regeneration; neuroregeneration