Proteasome Dysfunction and Disease: An Integrative Perspective on Acupuncture as Adjunct Support

Patient Education ｜ Jade Health Life

Proteasomes are essential intracellular systems responsible for degrading abnormal or no-longer-needed proteins. When proteasome function is impaired, misfolded or damaged proteins may accumulate within cells and interfere with normal cellular activity.

Research has shown that in neurodegenerative conditions such as Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease, abnormal protein aggregates accumulate in neurons. A major focus of current biomedical research is to understand why proteasomes fail to clear these proteins and how cellular clearance mechanisms might be supported or restored.

1. Pathological Core: Failure of Protein Degradation

Under normal conditions, the proteasome system works in coordination with cellular autophagy pathways to maintain protein homeostasis. When this balance is disrupted, misfolded proteins may persist and form toxic aggregates, contributing to oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and progressive neuronal dysfunction.

From this perspective, neurodegenerative diseases are not caused by a single molecular defect alone, but by a broader deterioration of cellular clearance, metabolic regulation, and the surrounding neural environment.

2. Acupuncture as Adjunct Support: Integrative Mechanisms

Acupuncture does not directly repair genetic or biochemical defects of the proteasome system. Within an integrative medicine framework, however, acupuncture is viewed as a supportive intervention that may help optimize the physiological environment in which cellular repair and clearance occur.

Support of autophagy and protein clearance pathways: Recent studies suggest that electroacupuncture at specific points (such as ST36 and LR3) may influence signaling pathways including mTOR, potentially supporting autophagy-related protein degradation processes.
Reduction of neuroinflammation: Protein aggregation is closely linked to chronic inflammatory responses. Acupuncture has been shown to exert bidirectional immunomodulatory effects, helping reduce pro-inflammatory cytokines and improve the neuronal microenvironment.
Improvement of microcirculation and metabolic support: Acupuncture may influence cerebral blood flow and local microcirculation, supporting metabolic waste removal and tissue resilience. This aligns with traditional concepts of restoring flow and reducing pathological stagnation.

3. Clinical Value in an Integrative Care Model

Clinically, acupuncture is considered a low-risk, non-pharmacological adjunct therapy. While it does not replace disease-modifying treatments, it may help support neuronal protection, slow functional decline, and improve quality of life in some individuals when used alongside conventional medical care.

In this context, acupuncture should be understood as part of an integrative, supportive strategy rather than a standalone or curative intervention.

Suggested Readings & Research References Expand / Collapse

Huang TI, Hsieh CL. Effects of Acupuncture on Ameliorating Oxidative Stress via Nrf2/ARE-related Pathways in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease. 2021.
Li X, et al. Acupuncture for neurodegenerative diseases: mechanisms, efficacy, and future research directions. 2023. (PMC12170434)
The Neuroprotective Effects of Electroacupuncture on Parkinson’s Disease and the Underlying Molecular Mechanisms. ResearchGate, 2024.
Lin JR, et al. Network meta-analysis of acupuncture for functional improvement in Alzheimer’s disease. Taiwan Evidence-Based Medicine Journal, 2022.

These references support ongoing research into acupuncture’s role in neuro-immune modulation, cellular metabolism, and supportive care. They do not imply direct repair of proteasome structures or replacement of medical treatment.