Memory Improvement in Senescent Prone Mice With Electroacupuncture
The mice treated with acupuncture were better able to navigate a water maze and had a lowering of brain inflammatory markers.
This study looks at senescent prone mice and delivers acupuncture in a set prescription once a week for 8 weeks (not intensive, at only once a week). The set prescription (for acupuncturists) is K3, Bl23, and GV20. The mice treated with acupuncture were better able to navigate a water maze and had a lowering of brain inflammatory markers.
Again, this could be anything. Is it true? Can it be repeated? Could it apply to humans? But the fact that we’re seeing more studies focusing on inflammation is fantastic. The more data points the better.
Abstract
Objective: To investigate effect of electroacupuncture (EA) with Bushen Jiannao on learning and memory ability in senescence-accelerated mouse prone 8 (SAMP8) mice and the related mechanisms.
Methods: 8-month-old senescence-accelerated-resistant (SAMR1) and SAMP8 mice were treated with EA at Baihui (GV 20), Shenshu (BL 23), and Taixi (KI 3) acupoint once a week for 8 weeks. The Morris water maze, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, immunohistochemistry, and Western blot were used to assess Alzheimer’s disease (AD)-associated cognitive and neuroinflammatory phenotypes.
Results: Our data showed that EA treatment decreased activation of microglia and astrocytes, decreased levels of inflammatory factors including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-17, and improved spatial memory deficits in SAMP8 mice. EA therapy with Bushen Jiannao exhibited anti-inflammatory properties and improved cognitive function.
Conclusion: The present study indicates that EA treatment based on the interaction between kidney and brain can improve learning and memory ability by inhibiting activation of astrocytes and microglia and decreasing expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, TNF-α and IL-17. EA treatment based on the interaction between kidney and brain may be an effective treatment for AD.
Keywords: Alzheimer disease; Cognitive deficit; Electroacupuncture; Kidney and brain; Memory and learning test; Neuroinflammation.