Chiropractic Shown to Affect Brain Function in Study

On June 11, 2024, the Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience journal published the results of a study that showed chiropractic care had a positive effect on brain function. The brain function was measured using an electroencephalogram (EEG). This study looked at the EEG readings of patients who were under chiropractic care and were experiencing mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

According to the Mayo Clinic website, "Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is the stage between the expected decline in memory and thinking that happens with age and the more serious decline of dementia. MCI may include problems with memory, language or judgment. People with MCI may be aware that their memory or mental function has ‘slipped.' Family and close friends also may notice changes. But these changes aren't bad enough to impact daily life or affect usual activities."

The purpose of the study was to see if chiropractic care had an effect on brain function of patients with MCI. The researcher explained this study by saying, "In this study, the aim is to investigate the changes in neural activity using the EEG signal pre- and post-chiropractic or control intervention in participants with MCI." This takes on an even more important purpose as the researchers noted that MCI often progresses to Alzheimer's disease, a much more serious cognitive condition.

In this study 26 participants who had been diagnosed with MCI were randomly divided into two groups of 13 participants. One group would receive chiropractic care, while the other group would not, and were used as a control group. All participants were between the ages of 58 and 68 years old. All participants received an EEG examination at the beginning of the study to establish a baseline for comparison later.

All the participants would receive two EEG examinations on each visit. For the chiropractic group, an EEG would be performed before a chiropractic adjustment, and a second EEG would be performed after the chiropractic adjustment. The control group would also receive two EEG examinations. One would be performed at the beginning of the visit, while the second would be performed after a "Sham adjustment" in which the participant was put through the same positions as an actual adjustment, but without an adjustment being administered.

The results of the study showed that the group that received chiropractic adjustments had positive changes in their EEG studies as tested immediately after the adjustment. The control group showed no change in any of their EEG examinations.

In summing up the results of this study the researchers stated, "Comparison of the results obtained from chiropractic intervention and previous studies shows that chiropractic intervention can have a positive effect on MCI disease and using this method may slow down the progression of mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer's disease."