A recent study published online in JAMA Network Open on June 26 indicates that acupuncture is associated with improved sleep quality in patients with Parkinson's disease. The study, led by Mingyue Yan, Ph.D., from the First Clinical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine in China, involved 78 patients with Parkinson's disease who experienced poor sleep quality. These patients were randomly assigned to receive either real or sham acupuncture for four weeks.

The researchers found significant increases in Parkinson Disease Sleep Scale (PDSS) scores from baseline in both the real and sham acupuncture groups. However, the real acupuncture group showed a notable improvement in PDSS scores at both four weeks and eight weeks of follow-up compared to the sham group. Importantly, no severe adverse events were reported in either group, and all moderate adverse events were well managed.

"In this randomized clinical trial, acupuncture improved sleep quality and overall quality of life for individuals with Parkinson's disease. The therapeutic effects persisted for up to four weeks, underscoring the potential of acupuncture as a beneficial adjunct in managing sleep-related issues among patients with Parkinson's disease," the authors wrote. They also emphasized the need for future research to include diverse participant samples to ensure the findings are applicable to the broader population of Parkinson's disease patients.

Two of the study's authors hold patents related to the sham needle used in this trial.