| Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a multifactorial and complex neurodegenerative disorder for which effective pharmacological treatments are currently lacking. In this context, acupuncture has emerged as a promising therapeutic intervention. This review synthesizes evidence from studies utilizing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), indicating that acupuncture can modulate neural activity in brain regions such as the prefrontal cortex, cingulate cortex, and hippocampus. It further enhances functional connectivity within critical brain networks, including the default mode network (DMN), central executive network (CEN), and salience network (SN), thereby improving cerebral hemodynamics and cognitive performance. Current research remains predominantly focused on efficacy validation, with mechanistic investigations still insufficient and methodologies relatively limited. Future studies should prioritize the integration of multimodal functional imaging techniques to systematically elucidate the neurobiological mechanisms underlying acupuncture treatment for MCI, thereby providing a more robust scientific foundation for its clinical translation and broader application. |
