Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice · Nov 11, 2026

Effects of Acupuncture on Cognitive Function and Brain Activation in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized Controlled Trial

By Jingyi G, Yufei C, Ming L et al.

Background and purpose Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) may represent an important window for interventions to delay dementia progression. Acupuncture, a central practice of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), has been studied as a non-pharmacological approach for MCI; however, clinical and neurofunctional evidence supporting its efficacy remains limited. This study aimed to investigate the effects of acupuncture on cognitive function and brain activation in older adults with MCI. Materials and methods In this randomized, assessor-blinded, controlled trial, 60 older adults with MCI were assigned to an experimental group receiving 12 weeks of acupuncture plus health education or a control group receiving health education alone. Cognitive assessments, including the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and Shape Trail Test parts A and B (STT-A and STT-B), along with functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) measurements during a verbal fluency task (VFT), were performed at baseline and after 12 weeks. Task-related β-values in seven regions of interest (ROIs), such as the frontal pole area (FPA), temporal cortex (TC), and Broca's area, were analyzed. Results Among the 60 randomized participants, 56 (27 in the experimental group, 29 in the control group) completed the trial and were included in the primary analysis. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), controlling for baseline scores, revealed a significantly greater improvement in MoCA scores for the experimental group (adjusted mean difference = 4.66, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.76–5.55, P < 0.001), along with greater reductions in STT-A (−11.83 s, P = 0.007) and STT-B (−40.86 s, P = 0.003). fNIRS analysis indicated significant time-by-group interactions in the FPA, TC, and Broca's area (P < 0.05), with β-values increasing exclusively in the experimental group. Cognitive improvements correlated with β-value changes in TC (r = 0.30, P = 0.029) and Broca's area (r = 0.34, P = 0.011). Conclusion Acupuncture may improve cognitive function in older adults with MCI, accompanied by an increase in task-related β-values in the temporal cortex and Broca's area.

doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2026.102096PubMed 43025389Interventions