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Acupuncture modulates the microbiota-gut-brain axis: a novel therapeutic strategy for amnestic mild cognitive impairment
Hang Xing, Wen-Long Hu, Sheng-yong Bao. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 2025-11-13
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) represents a critical prodromal stage of Alzheimer's disease (AD), yet effective therapeutic interventions to prevent or delay this conversion remain an unmet clinical need. Growing evidence implicates dysregulation of the microbiota-gut-brain axis (MGBA)-a complex bidirectional communication network involving neural, immune, and endocrine pathways-in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders. This perspective proposes that acupuncture, as a multi-target therapeutic approach, may modulate gut microbiota composition and restore MGBA homeostasis, thereby potentially decelerating the progression from aMCI to AD. A systematic understanding of the precise mechanisms through which acupuncture influences the MGBA carries substantial implications for both neuroscience and clinical practice. Future investigations should prioritize the elucidation of these mechanisms and the generation of robust clinical evidence through well-controlled experimental designs.
Key findings
- Amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) represents a critical prodromal stage of Alzheimer's disease (AD), yet effective therapeutic interventions to prevent or delay this conversion remain an unmet clinical need.
- Growing evidence implicates dysregulation of the microbiota-gut-brain axis (MGBA)-a complex bidirectional communication network involving neural, immune, and endocrine pathways-in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders.
- This perspective proposes that acupuncture, as a multi-target therapeutic approach, may modulate gut microbiota composition and restore MGBA homeostasis, thereby potentially decelerating the progression from aMCI to AD.
- A systematic understanding of the precise mechanisms through which acupuncture influences the MGBA carries substantial implications for both neuroscience and clinical practice.
- Future investigations should prioritize the elucidation of these mechanisms and the generation of robust clinical evidence through well-controlled experimental designs.
Why it matters
This perspective proposes that acupuncture may modulate gut microbiota and restore homeostasis of the microbiota-gut-brain axis, potentially slowing progression from amnestic mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer's. It calls for future investigations to clarify mechanisms and generate robust clinical evidence, so no treatment benefit has been demonstrated.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 33/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it. We have no data on senior author's track record, so that was left out: it earned 32 of the 96 points we could judge it on, which is 33 out of 100.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Frontiers in Neuroscience) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Frontiers in Neuroscience: journal h-index 226 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 1 / 7 | Cited 2 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.7 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 2.1× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 2 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | — / 4 | OpenAlex's profile for last-listed author Sheng-yong Bao holds only 2 work(s), too few to judge a track record — left out of this score |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Southern University of Science and Technology: institution h-index 551 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 41322351) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Points | 32 / 96 | Scored on 19 of 20 parts. We have no data for the rest, so they are left out: 32 of the 96 points we could judge it on is 33 out of 100. |
| Total | 33 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2025.1710066
- PubMed: 41322351
- Original source →
- Free full text: Frontiers in Neuroscience →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Xing, H., Hu, W.-L., & Bao, S.-y. (2025). Acupuncture modulates the microbiota-gut-brain axis: a novel therapeutic strategy for amnestic mild cognitive impairment. Frontiers in Neuroscience. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2025.1710066
Vancouver
Xing H, Hu W.-L, Bao S.-y. Acupuncture modulates the microbiota-gut-brain axis: a novel therapeutic strategy for amnestic mild cognitive impairment. Frontiers in Neuroscience. 2025. doi:10.3389/fnins.2025.1710066. PMID: 41322351.
BibTeX
@article{xing2025-41322351,
author = {Xing, Hang and Hu, Wen-Long and Bao, Sheng-yong},
title = {{Acupuncture modulates the microbiota-gut-brain axis: a novel therapeutic strategy for amnestic mild cognitive impairment}},
journal = {Frontiers in Neuroscience},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.3389/fnins.2025.1710066},
pmid = {41322351},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2025.1710066}
}