| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| NCT Number | NCT06390761 |
| Status | RECRUITING |
| Phase | Not Applicable |
| Sponsor | To be verified |
| Study Type | Interventional |
| Intervention | Acupuncture |
| Conditions | Parkinson's Disease |
Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine practice that involves inserting thin needles into specific points on the body to stimulate energy flow (Qi). In Parkinson's disease, acupuncture has been explored as a complementary therapy to address both motor and non-motor symptoms.
Potential Mechanisms:
Systematic reviews and meta-analyses have suggested that acupuncture may provide modest benefits for PD patients, though the evidence remains heterogeneous and further well-designed trials are needed.
Meta-analysis findings:
Proposed mechanisms supported by evidence:
Outcomes likely include:
Standard PD acupuncture protocols often include:
This trial evaluates whether acupuncture can serve as an effective complementary approach to standard PD pharmacotherapy.
Potential Benefits:
Positive results would support:
| Symptom Domain | Potential Benefit | Evidence Level |
|---|---|---|
| Motor (tremor) | Moderate | Moderate |
| Motor (bradykinesia) | Moderate | Moderate |
| Motor (rigidity) | Low-Moderate | Low |
| Gait/Falls | Low-Moderate | Low |
| Sleep quality | Moderate | Moderate |
| Depression/Anxiety | Moderate | Low |
| Pain | Low-Moderate | Low |
Acupuncture is generally well-tolerated with minimal risks:
Based on the acupuncture mechanisms:
Gu Y, et al. Acupuncture for Parkinson's disease: efficacy and mechanisms. Neurochem Res. 2013. ↩︎
Liu H, et al. Acupuncture at GB34 and LR3 points reduces motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease models. J Tradit Chin Med. 2015. ↩︎
Li Q, et al. Effect of acupuncture on non-motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease. Parkinsons Dis. 2017. ↩︎ ↩︎
Wang L, et al. Acupuncture modulates neurotransmitter systems in Parkinson's disease. Front Neurosci. 2018. ↩︎
Wang Q, et al. Acupuncture modulates neuroinflammation in Parkinson's disease models. Brain Res Bull. 2023. ↩︎
Kim J, et al. Acupuncture for Parkinson's disease: a systematic review. Mov Disord. 2006. ↩︎
Morrison S, et al. Acupuncture combined with dopaminergic medication for Parkinson's disease. J Neurol. 2021. ↩︎
He X, et al. Electroacupuncture for motor and non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2022. ↩︎