Acupuncture, the Chinese practice that uses thin needles inserted in the skin at specific pressure points, has been used for centuries to treat physical and mental conditions.
A new study suggests that acupuncture can help support memory.
Dr. Min Deng and Dr. Xu- Feng Wang of Wuhan University in China published a review of previous research in the journal Acupuncture in Medicine.
Approximately 600 study subjects with mild cognitive impairment — which increases risk of developing dementia — were given acupuncture treatments 3 to 5 times a week for eight weeks in four separate trials; a fifth trial lasted for three months.
The acupuncture subjects scored better on memory tests than those who did not receive acupuncture.