Acupuncture may influence autism-related behaviours by jointly regulating neurotransmitters, brain plasticity, inflammation, and synaptic signalling rather than acting on one target.
This review synthesised preclinical, clinical, and molecular research published from 2015 to 2025 examining acupuncture’s effects on biological pathways relevant to autism spectrum disorder. It compared evidence from autism-specific models with findings from related neuropsychiatric conditions, focusing on neurotransmitter signalling, neurotrophin-mediated plasticity, inflammation, synaptic function, and behavioural outcomes.
Across the reviewed literature, acupuncture was associated with changes in excitatory and inhibitory signalling, dopamine, serotonin, and noradrenaline pathways, as well as neurotrophin activity, inflammatory responses, and synaptic processes. The evidence supports a coordinated, multi-pathway mechanism that may affect autism-related behaviours, although study protocols and outcome measures varied substantially.
