Manual acupuncture improves language function in poststroke motor aphasia: JAMA

A recent multicenter clinical trial published in the Journal of American Medical Association highlighted the efficacy of acupuncture as a potential therapy for post-stroke motor aphasia. Motor aphasia usually seen following stroke significantly impairs the ability of the patients to communicate. Acupuncture has long been recommended as an alternative therapy for post-stroke aphasia, but its true impact had remained uncertain until now, which prompted Boxuan Li and team undertook this study.

The trial spanned from October 21, 2019 to November 13, 2021 and focused on investigating the effects of acupuncture on language function, neurological health and overall quality of life among stroke survivors. The study was conducted in three tertiary hospitals in China and involved a total of 252 randomized patients. This research conducted from February to April 2023 had majority of the participants who were men (78.6%) with an average age of 60.7 years. The participants were divided into one group receiving manual acupuncture (MA) and the other receiving sham acupuncture (SA). Also, both groups underwent conventional treatments and language training.

The results from the modified intention-to-treat analysis demonstrated that the MA group exhibited remarkable improvements compared to the SA group. The primary outcomes were measured by the aphasia quotient (AQ) of the Western Aphasia Battery (WAB) and scores on the Chinese Functional Communication Profile (CFCP) at 6 weeks and were significantly higher in the MA group. The difference in AQ was 7.99 points (95% CI, 3.42-12.55), and CFCP scores showed a difference of 23.51 points (95% CI, 11.10-35.93), both statistically significant (P < 0.001).

The positive trend continued at the end of the 6-month follow-up where the MA group showed even more substantial improvements in language function, quality of life and neurological impairment. This randomized clinical trial provides compelling evidence that support the efficacy of acupuncture in treatment post-stroke motor aphasia.

Reference:

Li, B., Deng, S., Zhuo, B., Sang, B., Chen, J., Zhang, M., Tian, G., Zhang, L., Du, Y., Zheng, P., Yue, G., & Meng, Z. (2024). Effect of Acupuncture vs Sham Acupuncture on Patients With Poststroke Motor Aphasia. In JAMA Network Open (Vol. 7, Issue 1, p. e2352580). American Medical Association (AMA). https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.52580