Brain-Gut Axis Modulation of Acupuncture in Functional Dyspepsia: A Preliminary Resting-State fcMRI Study

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Gastroenterology
• Integrative Medicine

Background:

• Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a common gastrointestinal disorder.
• Altered brain functional connectivity is implicated in FD pathophysiology.
• The brain-gut axis plays a crucial role in FD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of acupuncture on brain functional connectivity in FD patients.
• To explore how acupuncture modulates brain networks associated with FD.
• To correlate treatment outcomes with changes in brain activity.

Main Methods:

• fMRI was used to assess brain functional connectivity in 8 FD patients and 10 healthy controls.
• Regions of interest (ROIs) were selected based on prior acupuncture fMRI studies.
• Acupuncture effectiveness was measured by symptom changes, gastric motility, and gastrin levels.

Main Results:

• Acupuncture significantly improved FD signs and symptoms.
• Reduced connectivity was observed in specific brain networks in FD patients.
• Acupuncture treatment led to significant improvements in connectivity within ROIs (P < 0.05), except for the right medial temporal lobe-hippocampus and right inferior parietal lobule.

Conclusions:

• Brain functional connectivity is altered in FD patients.
• Acupuncture treatment normalizes brain functional connectivity in FD patients, approximating healthy control levels.
• Acupuncture's therapeutic effect in FD likely involves the restoration of the brain-gut axis.