Acupuncture may improve Parkinson’s disease by protecting dopamine-producing brain cells while easing both movement and non-movement symptoms through multiple biological pathways.
This narrative review searched several international and Chinese medical databases to gather clinical and preclinical evidence on acupuncture for Parkinson’s disease. The authors synthesized findings on symptom outcomes, proposed biological mechanisms, and different acupuncture approaches, including manual stimulation and electrical stimulation.
The reviewed evidence suggests that acupuncture can improve tremor, slowed movement, sleep problems, depression, and cognitive difficulties. Proposed mechanisms include reducing abnormal alpha-synuclein buildup, limiting cell death and oxidative damage, moderating inflammation linked to dopamine, and regulating brain circuits involved in movement control.
