Acupuncture and Sleep Quality Among Patients With Parkinson Disease

Yan M, Fan J, Liu X, Li Y, Wang Y, Tan W, Chen Y, He J, Zhuang L · JAMA Network Open · 2024 June 26

DOI 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.17862

Objective

To investigate the safety and efficacy of real acupuncture compared with sham acupuncture as an adjunctive therapy for patients with Parkinson disease who have poor sleep quality.

Conclusions

Acupuncture improved sleep quality and quality of life among patients with Parkinson disease, with therapeutic effects potentially continuing for up to 4 weeks.

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Insights

Acupuncture alongside medication improved sleep and quality of life in people with Parkinson disease, with benefits lasting beyond treatment.

This single-centre randomised clinical trial enrolled people with Parkinson disease who reported poor sleep quality. Participants were assigned to receive either real acupuncture or sham acupuncture alongside their usual anti-Parkinson medication for four weeks. Sleep quality was assessed before treatment, after treatment, and during follow-up, alongside measures of quality of life and safety. Both groups showed improved sleep, but real acupuncture produced greater improvements in sleep quality and quality of life than sham acupuncture. The benefits of real acupuncture remained evident during follow-up, suggesting that its effects persisted after treatment ended, while the intervention was considered safe.