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The randomized clinical trial was conducted at The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine in China between February 18, 2022, and February 18, 2023. It involved 78 participants, 41 men and 37 women, with a mean age of 64.1 years. All participants had been diagnosed with PD and reported moderate to severe sleep problems. The trial aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of real acupuncture (RA) versus sham acupuncture (SA) as adjunctive therapies to standard Parkinson's medication.
Participants were randomly assigned to receive either RA or SA for four weeks. Both groups continued their usual Parkinson’s medication and received sleep hygiene guidance. The RA group received real acupuncture, while the SA group received a placebo treatment using non-penetrating sham needles.
Acupuncture was administered three times per week for four weeks, targeting specific acupoints: Sishenzhen (4 points located 1.5 cun to the right, left, anterior, and posterior to GV20), ShenTing (GV24), YinTang (GV29), HeGu (LI4), TaiChong (LR3), SanYinJiao (SP6), ShenMen (HT7), ZuSanLi (ST36), ShenMai (BL62), and ZhaoHai (KI6). These acupoints were selected based on their relevance in traditional Chinese medicine for treating sleep disorders and Parkinson's symptoms. Real acupuncture involved inserting sterilized needles into these points, while sham acupuncture used blunt needles that mimicked the sensation without actual penetration.
The primary outcome was the change in Parkinson Disease Sleep Scale (PDSS) scores, evaluated at baseline, after the four-week treatment period, and at eight weeks of follow-up. Secondary outcomes included assessments of motor and nonmotor symptoms, quality of life, and anxiety levels.
The study demonstrated significant improvements in sleep quality for the RA group. PDSS scores increased by an average of 29.65 points from baseline (P < .001) after four weeks of treatment, and these improvements persisted at the eight-week follow-up. In contrast, the SA group showed a smaller increase in PDSS scores, averaging 10.47 points (P < .001), which did not sustain beyond the treatment period.
Moreover, patients in the RA group experienced significant reductions in motor symptoms (assessed with the Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale - UPDRS), anxiety levels (Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale - HAM-A), and overall nonmotor symptoms (Non-Motor Symptoms Scale - NMSS). Quality of life, as measured by the 39-item Parkinson Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39), also improved notably. [1] No severe adverse events were reported in either group.
This trial underscores the potential of acupuncture as a viable adjunctive therapy for improving sleep quality and overall quality of life in PD patients. The lasting effects observed in the RA group suggest that acupuncture not only alleviates sleep disturbances but also positively impacts motor and nonmotor symptoms, enhancing patients' daily functioning.
Dr. Mingyue Yan, the lead researcher, highlighted the significance of these findings: "Given the challenges in managing sleep disorders in Parkinson's disease, acupuncture offers a promising and safe alternative that can be integrated into standard treatment regimens." [2]
The study calls for further research to explore the long-term benefits of acupuncture and its mechanisms in alleviating symptoms of Parkinson's disease. This promising intervention could lead to broader acceptance and integration of acupuncture in neurological and complementary medicine practices, offering hope to many PD patients struggling with poor sleep quality.
References:
1. Yan, Mingyue, Jingqi Fan, Xin Liu, Yingjia Li, Yuting Wang, Weiqiang Tan, Yuanyuan Chen, Jun He, and Lixing Zhuang. "Acupuncture and Sleep Quality Among Patients With Parkinson Disease: A Randomized Clinical Trial." JAMA Network Open 7, no. 6 (2024): e2417862-e2417862.
2. Ibid.
Medicine
