Research Advances in Acupuncture for the Treatment of Post-Operative Cognitive Dysfunction

术后认知功能障碍(post-operative cognitive dysfunction, POCD)是术后常见的中枢神经系统并发症之一，尤其多见于老年患者。POCD对患者的术后恢复和生活质量具有严重影响，术后长期的认知功能障碍还可能影响患者的情绪和心理健康，增加痴呆的风险，对医疗成本、社会经济带来负担。随着我国老龄化进展和国内总体医疗水平的提升，POCD正逐步成为围术期医学中亟待解决的重要问题。本文将通过着眼于针刺这一中医传统特色疗法对防治POCD的临床应用进展及部分机制阐述，为目前临床治疗POCD提供新的靶点，创收一定的社会经济效益。Post-operative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is one of the common central nervous system complications following surgery, particularly prevalent among elderly patients. POCD severely impacts post-operative recovery and quality of life. Prolonged post-operative cognitive dysfunction may further compromise patients’ emotional and mental health, elevate the risk of dementia, and impose a substantial burden on healthcare costs and socioeconomic resources. With the progression of population aging and the overall advancement of medical standards in China, POCD has gradually emerged as a critical issue requiring urgent attention in peri-operative medicine. This article focuses on the advances of clinical application and explains some of the mechanisms of acupuncture, a traditional Chinese medical therapy, in the prevention and treatment of POCD. It aims to provide new targets for the current clinical treatment of POCD and generate certain socioeconomic benefits.