Behavioural brain researchJul 22, 2026

Electroacupuncture may reduce memory problems from heart-lung bypass by helping cell cleanup and brain connection repair

Longevity & Aging Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Updated Jul 23, 2026

Abstract

Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) significantly impaired cognitive performance and disrupted synaptic function in the hippocampal CA1 region.

CPB is associated with increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which may damage cognitive function.
Electroacupuncture (EA) appears to alleviate cognitive impairment resulting from CPB.
EA activates PINK1-mediated mitophagy, which is linked to improved cognitive outcomes following CPB.
Downregulation of PINK1 reverses the cognitive benefits provided by EA in this context.
These findings suggest a potential neuroprotective mechanism of EA through PINK1-dependent processes in a CPB-induced cognitive dysfunction model.

Simplified

Postoperative cognitive impairment has become the popular critical post-operative consequences, especially cardiopulmonary bypass(CPB), leading to an increased risk of mortality. However, there is no Effective treatment measures for CPB induced cognitive dysfunction. Electroacupuncture(EA) has shown promise in improving cognitive function, its efficacy in preventing cognitive impairment following CPB remains unknown. The current study aims to uncover the effect and mechanism of EA in relieving CPB induced cognitive dysfunction. The results showed that CPB notably impaired cognitive performance as well as restrained PINK1-mediated mitophagy, promoted reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and damaged synaptic function in the hippocampal CA1 region. In contrast, EA alleviated CPB induced cognitive impairment and activated PINK1-mediated mitophagy and restored hippocampal synaptic protein levels, which was reversed by PINK1 downregulation. These findings extend the understanding of EA's neuroprotective mechanisms by demonstrating a causal role for PINK1-dependent mitophagy in a CPB-induced POCD model, providing a mechanistic rationale for EA preconditioning in cardiac surgery settings.

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PubMed

Electroacupuncture may reduce memory problems from heart-lung bypass by helping cell cleanup and brain connection repair

Abstract

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Competing interests

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