A 76-year-old retired college professor sought treatment at Raleigh Acupuncture Associates for cognitive issues that had significantly impacted his quality of life. Over the past three years, he had experienced a steady decline in memory, concentration, and mental acuity. This deterioration began following a series of serious health challenges, including a heart attack and three bouts of COVID-19. As a lifelong academic, he found these cognitive difficulties particularly distressing and hoped acupuncture could provide relief. This memory acupuncture case report describes how treatment boosted his cognitive function by 30-40%, providing measurable improvements to his daily life.
Background and Chinese Medicine Diagnosis
The patient reported persistent brain fog, difficulty recalling names and events, and challenges with focus and problem-solving. He also felt physically fatigued, experienced cold extremities, and noted occasional digestive issues. Based on a comprehensive intake and pulse and tongue diagnosis, his pattern was identified as a combination of Kidney Yang deficiency and Spleen Qi deficiency.
In Chinese Medicine, the Kidneys are regarded as the foundation of life force (Jing) and play a vital role in brain health and memory. Kidney Yang deficiency, often characterized by coldness, fatigue, and a lack of vitality, can lead to insufficient nourishment of the brain. Similarly, the Spleen is responsible for generating Qi and Blood, and its deficiency can result in poor circulation of these essential substances to the brain, manifesting as mental fog and reduced cognitive function.
Acupuncture Treatment Plan
The patient underwent ten weekly acupuncture sessions. The primary goals were to strengthen Kidney Yang, tonify Spleen Qi, and enhance Qi and Blood circulation to the brain. These treatments also aimed to address systemic deficiencies contributing to his symptoms.
Key acupuncture points used in his treatment included:
KI3 (Taixi): Strengthens Kidney Yang and nourishes Jing.
BL23 (Shenshu): Tonifies the Kidneys and supports overall vitality.
CV4 (Guanyuan): Replenishes Kidney essence and strengthens Yang.
ST36 (Zusanli): Boosts Spleen Qi and aids in the production of Qi and Blood.
SP6 (Sanyinjiao): Harmonizes the Spleen and Kidneys while supporting circulation.
GV20 (Baihui): Elevates Qi to the brain, improving mental clarity and focus.
Yintang: Calms the mind and enhances concentration.
PC6 (Neiguan): Promotes circulation and calms the heart.
These points were complemented with auricular acupuncture, targeting points such as Shenmen and Brain to further enhance cognitive benefits.
Results and Improvements
After the first few treatments, our patient in this memory acupuncture case report felt slightly more energized and noticed a modest improvement in his ability to focus during conversations. By the fifth session, his memory recall improved, and he could engage in crossword puzzles with greater ease. At the conclusion of the ten sessions, he experienced a 30-40% improvement in his cognitive function.
Notably, he regained confidence in his ability to organize his thoughts and hold meaningful discussions, which were core to his identity as a former professor. His energy levels also increased, and he felt less overwhelmed by daily tasks. These improvements allowed him to resume hobbies like reading and participating in a book club, greatly enhancing his quality of life.
Mechanisms of Acupuncture for Cognitive Function
Acupuncture improves cognitive function through several mechanisms grounded in both Chinese Medicine and modern science. By tonifying the Kidneys and Spleen, acupuncture restores balance to the body, enabling the organs to function optimally. Strengthened Kidney Yang supports brain health by nourishing the essence (Jing), while enhanced Spleen Qi promotes the production and circulation of Qi and Blood.
From a physiological perspective, acupuncture increases blood flow to the brain, delivering oxygen and nutrients essential for mental acuity. Studies have shown that acupuncture stimulates the release of neurotrophic factors, promoting neural repair and connectivity. Moreover, points like GV20 and Yintang specifically target mental clarity and calm the mind, creating an optimal state for cognitive improvement.
Memory Acupuncture Case Report
This memory acupuncture case report illustrates how acupuncture effectively addresses cognitive decline in older adults by treating underlying systemic imbalances. By focusing on the patient’s Chinese Medicine diagnosis of Kidney Yang deficiency and Spleen Qi deficiency, the treatments successfully improved his memory, concentration, and overall mental acuity. These results highlight the potential of acupuncture as a natural, non-invasive option for supporting brain health and enhancing quality of life.
For this retired professor, a 30-40% improvement in cognitive function was life-changing. His ability to participate in intellectually stimulating activities was restored, reaffirming his identity and bringing joy to his daily life. Acupuncture offers hope for individuals facing similar challenges, providing a pathway to reclaiming mental sharpness and vitality.
Next Steps
BOOK NOW to schedule an appointment online.
Watch Video About Our Memory/Concentration Treatment.
Learn about all the conditions we treat.
Focus Keyphrase: Memory Acupuncture Case Report
Image generated with https://perchance.org/ai-text-to-image-generator
What our Clients are Saying
My wife made me come to acupuncture because I was always forgetting what she told me. Now I remember. So is this supposed to be good for me? I’m kidding! Yes, it helped. I’m not sure how, but it did work. I’m 90 years old, so I’m not supposed to remember everything, but I feel like my brain got a tune-up. They put up with my jokes here. And they fixed my neck pain too.
I suffered memory loss and inability to concentrate following a concussion several years ago. I made slow progress, but was still struggling in this area. Acupuncture has truly helped. I now have better recall and I don’t get that foggy brain as much. I’m less distracted as well. I told my doctor about acupuncture for concussion patients. I think everyone should get this done as part of their rehab. I could have used this three years ago.
I’m 87 years old, in good health all things considered. But my “senior moments” were starting to drive me crazy. I found their website and read about what acupuncture could do for memory and decided to give it a try. After several treatments I’m not ready to recite Shakespeare, but I’m not losing my car keys as frequently. My mind is definitely retaining information better, and I’m grateful for that. I will continue with the acupuncture and see what else it can do.
