Modulation of functional activity and connectivity by acupuncture in patients with Alzheimer disease as measured by resting-state fMRI

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0196933
• Publication Date: 2018-05-15T20:31:50Z
• Authors: Weimin Zheng; Zhuangzhi Su; Xingyun Liu; Hao Zhang; Ying Han; Haiqing Song; Jie Lu; Kuncheng Li; Zhiqun Wang
• Keywords: Middle temporal gyrus; Middle frontal gyrus; Superior frontal gyrus; Cingulate cortex

Acupuncture has been used in the therapy of Alzheimer disease (AD); however, its neural mechanisms are still unclear. The aim this study is to examine effect acupuncture on functional connectivity AD by using resting-state magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). Twenty-eight subjects (14 and 14 normal controls) participated study. rs-fMRI data were acquired before after stimulation at acupoints Tai chong (Liv3) Hegu (LI4). During baseline resting state, amplitude low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF), we found a significantly decreased or increased ALFF patients relative controls. These regions located right superior frontal gyrus (SFG), left postcentral gyrus, subgenual cingulate cortex (SCC), middle (MCC), inferior (IFG), hippocampus temporal (ITG). Then, selected these brain as seeds investigate whether regional activity could be modulated patients. When compared pre-acupuncture stage, several above showed an In addition, between precentral enhancement Finally, there close correlations activity, clinical performance current confirmed that He gu (LI4) can modulate specific cognition-related