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Anthea Rowan

This series is based on our reporting on TCM: its history, treatments and growing acceptance around the world. This is the fourth instalment.
When she watched her beloved aunt – a former secondary-school teacher who once helped her with her homework – transform from a sprightly 75-year-old into a confused woman who lost her memory and spoke nonsense, Dr Fanny Ip Chui-fun was determined to find a treatment for dementia.
Since 1993, Ip has been researching ways to identify and prevent brain degeneration.
There is a pressing need to find solutions to dementia, says Ip, chief scientific officer of the Hong Kong Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases (HKCeND) set up by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.
By 2050, the number of people living with dementia is expected to triple from 50 million to 152 million, when more than 16 per cent of the global population will be 65 years or older.

Whole-body health is vital for brain health, as the brain serves as the central control unit of the body and is influenced by all our bodily systems.
That is why she believes traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has a significant role to play in brain health and the fight against dementia.
“Chinese medicine theorises that the body is a harmonious network of interconnected organ systems, each with unique functions and relationships with others,” she says.
It views brain health problems as the result of imbalances in the body, and Chinese herbs are prescribed to restore balance and improve brain function over time.
Many recent studies have reviewed TCM’s potential roles in dementia prevention, addressing, for example, its positive impact on gut microbiota, which influences cognitive behaviour and brain health through the gut – brain axis, and the way it may support heart health – which is linked to good brain health.

One recent study found TCM use to be associated with improved grip strength in the elderly; grip strength is recognised as an easy and inexpensive screening tool for cognitive health.
Other research finds TCM may promote neurogenesis – the formation of new neurons, or brain cells, which support learning and memory.
The authors concluded: “TCM is a great treasure. We believe that the future development of medications from TCM that can improve adult neurogenesis would bring us one step closer to its application in the treatment of human diseases.”
Many TCM ingredients may benefit brain health, by supporting healthy blood flow, reducing inflammation and protecting nerve cells.
Curcumin, from Curcuma longa, a member of the ginger family, is an example. It, or the turmeric derived from the plant’s roots, has also been used in Ayurveda – traditional Indian medicine – and is prescribed to treat diseases of the liver and urinary tract among other ailments.
Its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties are seen as valuable in supporting brain health.
Elements of Ginkgo biloba, a tree which has been around for 250 million years and is known as a “living fossil”, have been used in TCM for thousands of years.

Known as the “brain herb”, its leaves and bark are believed to improve cognitive function, boost immunity and treat tinnitus, sexual dysfunction, migraine and the common cold.
Research continues to identify what specifically in these and other substances is working – and how. And it is challenging.
Ip knows this. Her early research focused on the potential benefits of TCM for neurodegenerative and neurological disorders.
“Traditional Chinese medicines often contain multiple ingredients that work [together], making it difficult to isolate specific active compounds,” Ip says.
Studying and understanding how combinations of herbs interact at the level of cells, tissues and organs is key.
One area of her team’s research focuses particularly on how they support the brain messaging systems – the synapses – she says. When communication between neurons at synapses, the tiny connections between neurons for message transmission, deteriorates, there is a decline in brain health and activity.
Ip is also a co-founder and director of HKUST start-up Infitech, which develops brain health products under the Cogniherbs name.

The basis of its NerveReform supplement is the dietary prescriptions used by doctors in Qing dynasty China to treat “forgetfulness”. It aims to restore function in synapses by targeting the early changes that happen through ageing and brain degeneration.
Spotting dementia early
As important as developing treatments or a cure is finding a way to spot dementia early: the changes in the brain associated with its symptoms can begin up to two decades before they start to show.
Ip and researchers at HKCeND have made good progress in the early diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) by identifying biomarkers – measurable indicators in blood, organs and tissues – which help to flag risk.

“Incorporating biomarkers into TCM research bridges ancient practices with modern science,” Ip says. So, for example, biomarkers can measure amyloid and tau – the proteins that build up in the brain and are linked to Alzheimer’s – and also “evaluate the effectiveness of TCM interventions in slowing down cognitive decline”.
The goal once those risks are identified, Ip says, is to “tailor treatments to individual patients, ultimately aiming to develop effective, scientifically validated therapies in the fight against dementia”.
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Wellness

How TCM could help fight dementia. With cases set to triple, a Hong Kong expert explains

Researchers, including in Hong Kong, have been looking at the potential of traditional Chinese medicine to treat dementia, cases of which are forecast to rise as the elderly population grows. Photo: Yik Yeung-man

Dr Fanny Ip Chui-fun, chief scientific officer of the Hong Kong Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases, says there is a pressing need to find solutions to dementia. Photo: HKCeND

TCM has the potential to help treat dementia because of the way it promotes gut health – which is linked to brain health. Photo: Shutterstock 

The leaves and bark of Ginkgo biloba, a tree which has been around for 250 million years, have long been used in TCM. They are believed to improve cognitive function. Photo: Shutterstock

VascuReform is a herbal brain health product under the Cogniherbs label designed to protect cognitive function. Photo: Infitech

A diagram of a cross-section of the brain of an Alzheimer’s sufferer, showing atrophy of the cerebral cortex and an enlarged hippocampus and ventricles. Photo: Shutterstock 

Testing for dementia by asking patients to draw a clock, walk and talk, stand on one leg

The clock-drawing test requires a person to be able to interpret the placement of the hands in relation to the numbers. It is an ability often lost in people with early dementia. Photo: Shutterstock

There are many different ways to score the clock-drawing test. Photo: Shutterstock

Dr Baibing Chen says the clock-drawing test is especially useful in judging brain health. Photo: Dr Baibing Chen

If a person has trouble with the balance test, standing on one leg for up to 30 seconds, it can indicate problems with motor coordination or even early signs of neurodegenerative conditions. Photo: Shutterstock

A diminished sense of smell is often one of the earliest signs of Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease, sometimes predating cognitive symptoms by years. It can also be a symptom of Covid-19. Photo: Shutterstock

Tests must be conducted within the context of the patient’s overall health, history, and current symptoms. Photo: Shutterstock

Different parts of the brain are responsible for different cognitive skills. Illustration: Shutterstock

Just as not all memory lapses mean someone has dementia, “failing” these tests does not necessarily mean they suffer from it. Photo: Shutterstock

Why traditional Chinese medicine is so special, and how it’s getting a push in Hong Kong

Chinese herbal medicine is dispensed at a pharmacy in Sham Shui Po, Hong Kong. Photo: Yik Yeung-man

Chinese herbal medicine is dispensed at a pharmacy in Sham Shui Po, Hong Kong, where traditional Chinese medicine is being promoted. Photo: Yik Yeung-man

Hong Kong’s acting secretary for health Dr Libby Lee (centre), Chinese Medicine Development commissioner Dr Vincent Chung (right), and Chinese Medicine Practice Subcommittee chairman Chan Wing-kwong at the Hong Kong Chinese Medicine Culture Festival. Photo: www.info.gov.hk

An artist’s impression of the finished Hong Kong Chinese Medicine Hospital, which is set to open in stages from 2025. It will provide predominantly TCM services, with Western medicine doctors playing a supporting role. Photo: HKBU

Traditional Chinese medicine is based on the belief that qi, the body’s vital energy, flows along meridians, or channels, in the body and keeps a person’s spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical health in balance. Photo: Shutterstock

Dr Mok Tik-lun, a lecturer at the School of Chinese Medicine at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Photo: CUHK

Acupuncture is one of the “four pillars” of traditional Chinese medicine, along with herbal medicine and dietary therapy, tui na massage, and exercise and movement therapy.

Cupping, in which heated glass jars create suction to promote circulation and the flow of qi. Photo: Getty Images

The traditional Chinese medicine that could become ‘key treatment’ for heart attacks, as study finds it lowers inflammation without adverse effects

Astragalus root herb is used in Chinese Traditional Medicine and has been found to reduce inflammation without negatively affecting the body’s immune system. Photo: Shutterstock

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioners sort herbal preparations. Astragalus root, used in TCM, has been found to reduce inflammation in heart attack patients in a UK study. Photo: Shutterstock

Astragalus root, long used in Chinese traditional medicine, has been found to reduce inflammation in heart attack patients without negatively affecting their immune systems. Photo: Shutterstock

Ioakim Spyridopoulos, professor of cardiology and cardiovascular gerontology at Newcastle University. Photo: Newcastle University

The team behind the study now hopes to further their research and make TA-65 derived from Astragalus root an “important” part of treatment for heart attack patients. Photo: Shutterstock

‘Very promising’: Chinese herbal medicine trial offers new hope in memory loss treatment

Capsules containing a blend of Ginkgo biloba, ginseng and saffron extracts - called Sailuotong - have shown promise in improving memory and other functions in people diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment. Photo: Bloomberg

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Qiu Jingchuan, deputy chief practitioner at Lei Yun Shang, takes a patient’s blood pressure at the company’s TCM clinic in Shanghai, China. Photo: Lisa Cam

Lei Yun Shang’s TCM clinic in Shanghai. Photo: Lei Yun Shang

Hong Kong-based TCM practitioner Samuel To at his clinic in Central. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

San fu tian moxibustion patches on a patient. Photo: Samuel To

Inside Lei Yun Shang’s TCM clinic in Shanghai. Photo: Lei Yun Shang

How celebrities are driving TCM’s boom in the West and the treatments people seek

Ex-One Direction band member Zayn Malik praises Nin Jiom Pei Pa Koa, a Chinese herbal syrup, as an “elixir” for his voice in an interview with British Vogue in June 2024. Photo: SCMP composite/YouTube (@British Vogue)/Ninjiom.com

Serena Williams, who is featured having both cupping and acupuncture sessions in an HBO documentary. Photo: EPA-EFE

Tsao-Lin Moy does cupping for a client at her practice in New York. Photo: Nick Onken

Dr Reuben Chen, a doctor based outside Dallas, uses Chinese medicine extensively in his practice. Photo: Dr Reuben Chen

Traditional Chinese medicine relies on a huge range of ingredients to provide treatments. Photo: Shutterstock

Tara Greenberg, a Chinese medicine practitioner and fertility specialist in California, is seen with acupuncture needles in her face and head. Photo: Instagram/point.holisticwellness

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TCM practitioner Elizabeth Yau gives a patient facial acupuncture. Acupuncture has become a common TCM treatment. Photo: Elizabeth Yau

Chee Hee Seng is spreading the word of the value of TCM through social media, raising followers’ awareness – and curiosity – about this age-old medical system. Photo: Instagram/tcmbycheehee

Elizabeth Yau inserts acupuncture needles in a client’s stomach. Photo: Elizabeth Yau 

Chee Hee Seng was exposed to Chinese medicine from a young age and is now using it to help his family. Photo: Instagram/@tcmbycheehee

A patient undergoes cupping therapy. Photo: Elizabeth Yau

Traditional Chinese medicine remedies for colds, coughs, flu, sleep, fatigue and more

Hong Kong-based traditional Chinese medicine practitioner Elizabeth Yau says that by addressing specific imbalances, TCM herbal remedies can uplift energy levels, reduce stress, improve digestion and restore overall vitality. Photo: Instagram/tcm.elizabeth

There are about 700 herb plants in common use in TCM. Photo: Shutterstock

Seng says that if you have come down with a cold, the best way to treat it naturally is to take personalised Chinese medicinal herbs and get enough rest. Photo: Instagram/tcmbycheehee

Ginger is commonly used in herbal remedies. Photo: Shutterstock

How TCM’s ‘miracle pill’ is used to treat strokes, but experts urge caution

A traditional Chinese medicine practitioner checks an elderly man. According to the Hong Kong Stroke Fund, about 25,000 new stroke cases occur in the city each year. Photo: Eugene Lee

Angong Niuhuang Wan is among the most prized traditional Chinese medicine formulas and costs an eye-watering amount. But do the pills actually help prevent and treat strokes, and can they be harmful? A Hong Kong-based TCM practitioner helps us understand more. Photo: Shandong Hongjitang Pharmaceutical Group

Cattle gallstones, or niu huang, are a prized ingredient in TCM and feature in Angong Niuhuang Wan. Photo: Soho/APP

Many people have faith in Chinese medicine, especially in formulas like Angong Niuhuang Wan that have existed for hundreds of years or more. Photo: Shutterstock

TCM practitioner Michelle Zhang treats a patient. Photo: Michelle Zhang

Patients and workers at a TCM clinic in Hangzhou, China. Photo: Shutterstock

How luxury traditional Chinese medicine treatments are finding more fans in Hong Kong

Yun Wellness, at the Island Shangri-la in Hong Kong, regularly hosts guest acupuncturists, tai chi masters and bonesetters. Photo: Yun Wellness

Kelly Chain Yeung Pui-kuen, a TCM practitioner at Chain’s Medicare Centre in Admiralty, Hong Kong. Photo: Jonathan Wong

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The interior of Chuan Spa at Cordis, Hong Kong. Photo: Karma Lo

Yun Wellness’ spa treatments are built around a holistic philosophy that seeks to revitalise the body and the mind. Photo: Yun Wellness

Jessie Chan, assistant director of Chuan Spa at Cordis, Hong Kong. Photo: Karma Lo

A neuroscientist describes how traditional Chinese medicine may provide modern solutions to preserving cognitive function as we age


A neuroscientist describes how traditional Chinese medicine may provide modern solutions to preserving cognitive function as we age.


Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)

Dementia

Medicine

Ageing society

How TCM could help fight dementia. With cases set to triple, a Hong Kong expert explains

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}A neuroscientist describes how traditional Chinese medicine may provide modern solutions to preserving cognitive function as we age

A neuroscientist describes how traditional Chinese medicine may provide modern solutions to preserving cognitive function as we age