Beneficial effect of manual-acupuncture in limiting cognitive changes in type-2 diabetic patients

Abstract

Though acupuncture has been used for management of cognitive impairment, high quality evidence is lacking to support this therapy. The present study was designed to assess beneficial effects of manual acupuncture in limiting cognitive decline in diabetic patients. Thirty cases of controlled type II diabetes mellitus and thirty age matched healthy individuals (controls) of either sex were included in the present study after obtaining informed consent. After recording baseline parameters (pre-intervention values), intervention was administered to the cases for weekly three days (alternative days) for 3 months. After 3 months, post intervention post intervention values were recorded and compared. Cognition was assessed by using spatial and verbal memory test and MMSE. Our study supports to advocate the acupuncture as a treatment to improve cognitive function. We recommend further detailed study in this area to provide high quality evidence to support the acupuncture in the management of diabetes and it s complications.