The influence of Ayurvedic medicinal plants on neurodegenerative health development in Alzheimer’s patients
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.58445/rars.3584Keywords:
neuroscience, alzheimers, environmental neuroscience, environmental biology, environmental health, environmental psychology, integrative biology, ayurveda, holistic medicine, ayurvedic medicine, indian medicine, wellness, amyloid plaque, turmeric, ginger, ashwagandha, neurodegeneration, cognitive neuroscience, sarah adkar, ayurvedic, ayurvedic interventions, curcumin, cognition, mental health, psychology, health psychology, Alzheimer's disease, pathology, AD, tau modulation, neuroinflammation, East Asian herbs, drosophila, AD pathology, neurobiology, molecular environmental biology, psychobiology, learning, memory, aging, cholinergic transmission, neurosustainability, neuropsychiatric, sarah adkar neuroscience, sarah adkar brain, brain, brain health, cognitive impairment, memory loss, dementia, environmental health scienceAbstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a devastating and progressive neurodegenerative disorder. Its profound impact is underscored by statistics showing that millions worldwide are affected, with numbers projected to rise dramatically, imposing immense burdens on patients, caregivers, and healthcare systems. Patients typically experience debilitating memory loss, confusion, difficulty with problem-solving, and a profound decline in their ability to perform daily tasks. The urgent need for effective interventions is clear, especially as current conventional treatments aim to treat symptoms like cognitive decline and behavioral changes, yet are limited by their inability to halt or reverse the underlying progression of the disease. The complex pathology of AD includes the accumulation of beta-amyloid protein (a protein that forms sticky clumps, known as plaques, in the brains of Alzheimer's patients), neurofibrillary tangles, oxidative stress, and chronic neuroinflammation. In light of these limitations, traditional Ayurvedic medicine, known for its holistic approach, may be one alternative or complementary approach to treating AD. Hence, this literature review investigates how traditional Ayurvedic practices, including the use of select herbal remedies, may contribute to brain health and cognitive function relevant to neurodegenerative symptoms and the underlying causes and effects of AD.
Specifically, we examine evidence supporting the neuroprotective potential of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe), and Turmeric (Curcuma longa). Investigations spanning computational, in vitro, and in vivo (animal) models, alongside preliminary human observations, reveal that these herbs and their active compounds exert multifaceted neuroprotective effects. Collectively, these traditional Ayurvedic dietary components appear to address several core pathological mechanisms of AD, offering a multi-targeted approach that may complement or provide alternatives to conventional treatment strategies. This review highlights their potential as valuable dietary interventions for supporting neural health and slowing neurodegeneration in AD patients.
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