Electroacupuncture improves sleep deprivation-induced cognitive impairment by suppressing hippocampal inflammatory response in mice

Sleep deprivation (SD) is known to induce neurocognitive dysfunction, with hippocampal inflammation emerging as a critical mediator. Electroacupuncture has shown efficacy in modulating inflammation in neurological disorders, but its potential in mitigating SD-induced cognitive impairment remains underexplored. Using a murine model, we investigated the effects of electroacupuncture on hippocampal inflammation and cognitive function following SD treatment. BALB/c mice underwent sleep disruption using a multiple-platform apparatus and were subsequently treated with electroacupuncture. Cognitive function was assessed using the Morris Water Maze and Y-maze tests. Electroacupuncture treatment significantly ameliorated SD-induced cognitive impairment, as evidenced by improved performance in spatial memory tasks. Additionally, electroacupuncture attenuated hippocampal inflammation, characterized by reduced levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, MCP-1 and TNF-α) and increased expression of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. Mechanistically, electroacupuncture suppressed microglial activation and inhibited the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway within the hippocampus. Electroacupuncture has therapeutic potential in mitigating SD-induced cognitive dysfunction by modulating hippocampal inflammation, which offers a promising non-pharmacological approach for preserving cognitive function in sleep-deprived individuals.