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Review
. 2025 May 15;17(5):3703-3717.
doi: 10.62347/QFJO6227. eCollection 2025.

Acupuncture for neurodegenerative diseases: mechanisms, efficacy, and future research directions

Xin Tang  1 , Chen Wang  1 , Shan Tian  1 , Hejun Wen  1 , Hong Zhang  1   2
Affiliations
Review

Acupuncture for neurodegenerative diseases: mechanisms, efficacy, and future research directions

Xin Tang et al. Am J Transl Res. .

Abstract

In recent years, acupuncture has shown good therapeutic efficacy in treating neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and multiple sclerosis. Studies have demonstrated that acupuncture alleviates symptoms primarily by suppressing neuroinflammation, enhancing autophagy, improving synaptic plasticity, and optimizing mitochondrial function. As molecular research advances, the underlying mechanisms of acupuncture in these conditions have become increasingly clear. This review summarizes recent progress in understanding the efficacy and molecular mechanisms of acupuncture in neurodegenerative diseases, providing a theoretical support for its clinical application.

Keywords: Acupuncture; Alzheimer’s disease; Parkinson’s disease; amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; multiple sclerosis.

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Conflict of interest statement

None.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Mechanism of acupuncture in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Mechanism of acupuncture in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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