A new review of existing research suggests acupuncture might help reduce brain inflammation by changing how immune cells use energy. The review looked at studies on microglia, the brain's main immune cells. When these cells are overactive, they can cause harmful inflammation linked to conditions like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
The review found that acupuncture appears to promote a shift in microglia from a pro-inflammatory state that relies on glycolysis to an anti-inflammatory state that uses oxidative phosphorylation. This change is associated with regulation of key enzymes involved in glucose metabolism, including glucose transporters, hexokinase 2, and pyruvate kinase M2.
It is important to note that this is a review of mechanisms, not a clinical trial. The review did not report on specific patient outcomes, sample sizes, or safety data. The findings provide a theoretical basis for how acupuncture might work, but they do not prove that acupuncture is an effective treatment for any specific brain disorder.
Readers should understand that this research is early and exploratory. While the mechanism is promising, more rigorous clinical studies are needed to determine if acupuncture can actually help people with neuroinflammatory conditions. Always talk to your doctor before starting any new treatment.
