title: Modulatory effects of acupuncture on brain networks in mild cognitive impairment patients.
abstract: Functional magnetic resonance imaging has been widely used to investigate the effects of acupuncture on neural activity. However, most functional magnetic resonance imaging studies have focused on acute changes in brain activation induced by acupuncture. Thus, the time course of the therapeutic effects of acupuncture remains unclear. In this study, 32 patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment were randomly divided into two groups, where they received eitherTiaoshen Yizhiacupuncture or sham acupoint acupuncture. The needles were either twirled atTiaoshen Yizhiacupoints, includingSishencong(EX-HN1),Yintang(EX-HN3),Neiguan(PC6),Taixi(KI3),Fenglong(ST40), andTaichong(LR3), or at related sham acupoints at a depth of approximately 15 mm, an angle of ± 60°, and a rate of approximately 120 times per minute. Acupuncture was conducted for 4 consecutive weeks, five times per week, on weekdays. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging indicated that connections between cognition-related regions such as the insula, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, thalamus, inferior parietal lobule, and anterior cingulate cortex increased after acupuncture atTiaoshen Yizhiacupoints. The insula, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, and hippocampus acted as central brain hubs. Patients in theTiaoshen Yizhigroup exhibited improved cognitive performance after acupuncture. In the sham acupoint acupuncture group, connections between brain regions were dispersed, and we found no differences in cognitive function following the treatment. These results indicate that acupuncture atTiaoshen Yizhiacupoints can regulate brain networks by increasing connectivity between cognition-related regions, thereby improving cognitive function in patients with mild cognitive impairment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shenzhen Baoan Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Ting-Ting
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shenzhen Baoan Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Shenzhen Baoan Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Ju-Ke
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shenzhen Baoan Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Mei
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shenzhen Baoan Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Xu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Shenzhen Baoan Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Jiu-Ping
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Shenzhen Baoan Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shenzhen Baoan Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Hong-Liang
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shenzhen Baoan Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Xin-Yan
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shenzhen Baoan Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Jiao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Shenzhen Baoan Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Hao-Bo
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shenzhen Baoan Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Shang-Jie
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-8414-7074
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Chen
keywords: Alzheimer's disease; Tiaoshen Yizhi; acupuncture; brain network; mild cognitive impairment; nerve regeneration; neural regeneration; neuroimaging; resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging