New | Acupuncture can help elderly people with cognitive impairment, study finds

A study by the Chinese University has found that acupuncture was effective in helping elderly people with mild cognitive impairment to improve their conditions.

Its Chinese medicine researchers said on Monday seven patients aged between 65 and 79 who had undergone 24 acupuncture sessions in eight weeks since August now showed improvements in memory and cognitive functions.

About 8.5 per cent of those over 70 years old in Hong Kong are estimated to have mild cognitive impairments, which may progress into dementia. There is currently no effective cure for dementia.

The team is now recruiting 150 more people over age 65 with mild cognitive impairment to take part in the next part of their research.