Living with a stroke can leave many people struggling with memory and thinking problems, a condition known as mild cognitive impairment. For these patients, finding effective ways to improve daily function and mental clarity is a major priority. A large review of data from 3,680 patients looked at 15 different types of acupuncture treatments to see which ones helped the most.
The review found that several combinations were effective. For example, electroacupuncture combined with moxibustion showed the highest improvement in MoCA scores, which measure cognitive function. Other combinations, like electroacupuncture with hyperbaric oxygen therapy, showed strong results on the MMSE scale. Additionally, combining manual acupuncture with donepezil or cognitive training helped improve scores on the Barthel index, which tracks daily living skills.
While the results are encouraging and the treatments were considered safe, the researchers noted some important cautions. The quality of the original studies used in this review was often low or inconsistent. Because the evidence is not perfectly uniform, more high-quality, strictly designed trials are needed to confirm these findings and determine the best path forward for patients.
