Have you ever wondered if chiropractic adjustments could help people with brain conditions like Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease? It’s a big question to ponder as we attempt to unlock the secrets of living longer and healthier. We know that neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, are becoming increasingly prevalent due to aging populations, and sadly, the causes of these diseases remain poorly understood.
At this present moment in time, Alzheimer’s disease is the cause of approximately 70% of dementia cases globally, while over 150,000 people are living with Parkinson’s in Australia alone. [1, 2] That’s why it’s important that as chiropractic research continues to examine the effects of the adjustment in the brain and nervous system, we look at issues like neurodegeneration. In line with that, a recent study examined how chiropractic adjustments might affect brain activity.
The study once again emerged from the team at the New Zealand College of Chiropractic, which has been at the forefront of chiropractic and brain research for quite some time. This time, researchers conducted a study involving 28 adults: 14 with Alzheimer’s disease and 14 with Parkinson’s disease. These participants underwent chiropractic spinal adjustments and control (sham) intervention in a randomised order. The study used electroencephalography (EEG) and somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs).
For those of us who don’t do brain research on a weekly basis, Somatosensory evoked potentials are the electrical impulses generated in the brain in response to sensory stimuli.
Brain activity was measured using EEG, which records electrical signals from the brain, and SEPs are recorded in response to a stimulus, such as a touch to the hand. The researchers analysed different aspects of the recordings to see how chiropractic adjustments might affect brain function.
Key Findings
The study found some interesting results, all of which could potentially help us unlock the secrets of both understanding and preventing neurodegeneration. They found:
- Reduced N30 Peak: In adults with Alzheimer’s Disease, chiropractic adjustments significantly reduced the N30 peak by 15%. This N30 is a specific wave on the EEG associated with sensory processing and negatively associated with motor deficits. I.e., the higher the peak, the more significant the deficit.
- Increased Brain Activity: Both participants with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease showed increased brain activity in all frequency bands after chiropractic adjustments. This suggests that the adjustments might stimulate brain function (a potential that has been raised in prior research on chiropractic and the brain).
- Improved Brain Network Connectivity: A notable enhancement of individuals undergoing chiropractic adjustments led to better communication between different brain regions, particularly within the Default Mode Network (DMN). The DMN is a brain system known for being active when we perform tasks involving memory or when invoking mental constructs. [3]
These findings are all significant when it comes to the aging brain. However, they are not the only findings regarding chiropractic and brain function. Another study investigated the effects of chiropractic spinal manipulation on brain activity in stroke patients. [4] Similarly, EEG was recorded before and after each chiropractic adjustment and control intervention, revealing a significant increase in the N30 peak amplitude for both groups.
What Does This Mean?
These studies show that it is possible to measure brain activity using EEG in people with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease and even those who have suffered a stroke. They also found that a single chiropractic adjustment can positively affect brain function in people with Alzheimer’s disease and stroke survivors. However, more research is needed with a larger group of participants to understand the long-term benefits and their full implications. If this is what one adjustment can do, what can a longer course of care do for a brain that is staving off the effects of age-related neurodegeneration?
While the results of this study are promising, more research is necessary to fully understand the potential benefits of chiropractic adjustments for people with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
But as always, more research is an opportunity. We can’t wait to see what emerges.
REFERENCES:
- Alzheimer’s Research Australia. 2024. https://alzheimersresearch.org.au/alzheimers/what-is-alzheimers/
- Parkinson’s Australia. 2024 https://www.parkinsons.org.au/statistics/
- Anastasijevi, D. 2016. Blackouts in the Brain: A New Complex Systems Perspective on Alzheimer’s Disease Duska https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/blackouts-in-the-brain-a-new-complex-systems-perspective-on-alzheimers-disease/
- Amjad, I., Drewes, AM., Haavik, H., Holt, K., Lelic, D., Navid, MS., Niazi, IK., & Nedergaard, RB. 2020. Investigating the Effects of Chiropractic Spinal Manipulation on EEG in Stroke Patients. 10(5):253. doi:10.3390/brainsci10050253.
