SHREWSBURY, N.J., Nov. 20, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In connection with Alzheimer's Awareness Month this November, a Shrewsbury NJ health and wellness clinic is trying to make area residents aware that acupuncture may help sufferers from Alzheimer's disease. According to Scott Bendell, M.Ac., C.A., who practices acupuncture at Marron Wellness Center, research is showing that individuals struggling with this progressive disorder may be able to protect their neurological health and improve their brain function with the aid of acupuncture. "It's wonderful that this ancient healing modality has the potential to treat illnesses that challenge modern medicine," says Bendell.
Alzheimer's disease is a condition that causes ever-worsening dementia. The Healthcare Medical Institute lists the neurological disorder as the third-leading cause of death among the elderly population. According to the Mayo Clinic, Alzheimer's symptoms typically include difficulty working with numbers, memory lapses, inability to use the right words in everyday conversation, and a gradual inability to cope with daily tasks. While drugs may be prescribed to improve symptoms temporarily, no cure for Alzheimer's exists.
Research indicates that Alzheimer's disease can respond to acupuncture -- the insertion of fine needles into specific points on the body in order to relieve a variety of health issues. Bendell points to a Hong Kong study of Alzheimer's patients displaying better memory, attention, verbal and motor skills after only 7 days of acupuncture treatment. He also mentions a 3-month study at Wellesley College that produced similar results. "Both of the studies in question date from 2000, so we've seen promising signs for many years now that acupuncture can indeed help people with this disease," says Bendell.
Recent work with mice may even reveal the actual biochemical mechanisms behind acupuncture's positive effects on dementia. According to Bendell, a study conducted by the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine involved four groups of mice, including mice with normal neurological function and mice with "Alzheimer-Type" neurological profiles. A technique called electroacupuncture (in which the needles are wired to conduct electricity) showed improvements in the way portions of the mice's brains metabolized glucose. "Since poor metabolism of glucose in the brain is a known factor in the development of Alzheimer's, this is an important discovery," Bendell notes. The study also found that electroacupuncture was more effective at improving both glucose metabolism and memory than donepezil, a drug commonly prescribed for these purposes in Western modern medicine.
Bendell encourages anyone struggling with Alzheimer's disease to learn more about acupuncture's potential. He adds that acupuncture is a safe, drug-free form of care that helps general nerve function in addition to whatever benefits it conveys for Alzheimer's patients. "It's absolutely worth looking into," he says.
Marron Wellness Center offers acupuncture services on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:30 to 8:00, and on Fridays from 9:30 to 1:00. Bendell offers free consultations, while first-time patients receive a special $85 treatment rate. For more call (732) 542-1272 or visit marronwellness.com.