Acupuncture Shown to Relieve Postconcussion Symptoms and Repair Brain Microstructure After Mild TBI

A new clinical trial suggests acupuncture may offer a safe, effective nonpharmacologic treatment for patients suffering from lingering postconcussion symptoms following mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). The study, published in Radiology, reveals that targeted acupuncture therapy not only alleviated symptoms but also improved white matter integrity as seen on advanced MRI scans.

Researchers conducted a randomized, controlled trial involving 66 mTBI patients who were divided into three groups: verum acupuncture, sham acupuncture, and a waiting-list control. All patients received baseline and post-treatment MRI scans using diffusion-tensor imaging (DTI) to assess white matter microstructure, and their symptoms were evaluated using the Rivermead Post-Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire (RPQ-16).

Participants receiving true acupuncture treatment reported significant reductions in postconcussion syndrome (PCS) scores both immediately after therapy and at 6–12-month follow-up. PCS severity dropped by 34% after treatment and by 41% at follow-up, while no comparable improvements were seen in the sham or control groups.

“Verum acupuncture significantly reduced PCS scores and was the only intervention to demonstrate a sustained benefit over time,” the authors wrote, noting a substantial effect size and statistically significant improvement compared to controls.

MRI findings echoed these clinical results. Patients treated with acupuncture showed marked improvement in white matter integrity—especially in the right posterior corona radiata, a region linked to motor and cognitive function. Notably, improvements in this brain region were strongly correlated with the long-term reduction of PCS symptoms (r = 0.723; P < .001), suggesting a biologic link between structural recovery and symptom relief.

The acupuncture intervention, delivered over 14 sessions across 4 weeks, used electroacupuncture at well-defined traditional Chinese medicine points. Sham procedures used nonpenetrating needles and no electrical stimulation, ensuring a high level of blinding for comparison. The study reported no serious adverse effects in either intervention group.

“Previous therapies for PCS often rely on pharmaceuticals or physical rehabilitation with limited success,” the authors noted. “Acupuncture offers a low-risk, cost-effective option that not only addresses symptoms but also promotes neurologic repair.”

The study’s limitations include a relatively small, homogenous sample from a single site, and a lack of long-term imaging beyond the initial follow-up window. Nonetheless, researchers emphasize the potential for acupuncture as a viable treatment strategy and advocate for larger, multi-center trials.

As the field of neurorehabilitation evolves, the authors suggest the right posterior corona radiata could serve as a biomarker target for evaluating treatment response to early acupuncture in mTBI patients.