Acupuncture Modulation of the Lung-Brain Axis in Alzheimer's Disease: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Perspectives

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive cognitive decline and an impaired quality of life, for which no curative treatment is currently available. Recent research indicates that chronic pulmonary conditions-including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)-exhibit significant epidemiological associations with AD pathogenesis, suggesting that the lung-brain axis may contribute to AD development. Acupuncture, a core TCM intervention, shows promise for modulating multisystem functions and enhancing cognitive performance. This review synthesizes the current evidence regarding pulmonary diseases influencing AD through the lung-brain axis, elucidates potential mechanisms by which acupuncture may modulate pulmonary function and mitigate AD pathology, and explores future directions for lung-brain axis-targeted acupuncture interventions. Our overarching aim is to propose integrative, evidence-based strategies that combine Chinese and Western medicine for the prevention and management of AD.