This meta-analysis combined data from multiple studies to look at acupuncture for Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment. The research included 3,362 patients who received acupuncture alone, acupuncture combined with Western medicine, or standard Western medicine alone. Some studies used placebos or no treatment as a comparison. The main goal was to see if acupuncture helped overall cognitive function.
The results showed that acupuncture alone worked better than placebos or no treatment. When compared to Western medicine alone, acupuncture alone also showed superior results. Combining acupuncture with Western medicine was better than Western medicine alone. The effect was larger in patients with Alzheimer's disease than in those with mild cognitive impairment. There was no significant difference between manual acupuncture and electroacupuncture when used alone or with Western medicine.
Safety data were not reported in the included studies. The researchers noted that the studies had different methods and varying quality, which creates uncertainty. Because of this heterogeneity, results must be interpreted with caution. This analysis suggests acupuncture could be an option for eligible patients, potentially as an add-on to standard treatment or as a short-term alternative when standard medicine is not suitable.