Ayurveda Program Boosts Health for Elderly in Faridabad
The All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) in New Delhi has unveiled promising results from a recent community-based Ayurveda initiative aimed at enhancing the physical and mental well-being of senior citizens in Faridabad, Haryana. According to the findings, participants experienced notable improvements in their quality of life, Agnibala, and bone mineral density following the program. Additionally, cognitive health assessments showed positive changes, with selected biomarkers such as serotonin, acetylcholine, DHEA, and vitamin D reflecting improvements as well.
This noteworthy information was shared during a workshop at AIIA on October 24, where the project report was also submitted to an expert committee. The initiative, part of AIIA’s Public Health Initiative (PHI), screened a total of 5,594 individuals aged between 60 and 80 over the course of three months, providing them with tailored Ayurvedic treatments. Separately, a cohort of 200 patients was examined for dementia-related issues and received specific Ayurveda-based interventions lasting four months.
The project, titled “Community-Based Ayurveda Intervention for Promotion of Physical and Mental Health in Elderly Population of Faridabad District, Haryana State,” was designed to explore the effectiveness of community-level Ayurveda-based strategies to promote healthy aging. The initial assessments revealed several health challenges faced by participants, including vision impairments (67.73%), physical inactivity (43.05%), and diminished cognitive function (6.85%), among others.
After a 60-day intervention in the first project component, overall quality of life scores increased significantly from 292.0 to 326.3, alongside improvements in Agnibala scores, which are linked to digestive and metabolic health. In the cognitive health segment, scores on the Mini-Mental State Examination showed a favorable shift, indicating enhanced cognitive abilities, with quality of life ratings climbing from 277.4 to 364.2. Moreover, there were also positive fluctuations in levels of essential biomarkers.
These findings open avenues for further investigations into the benefits of Ayurveda on community health. However, continued scientific evaluation and safety monitoring are crucial to substantiate these results and confirm the interventions’ effectiveness.
Dr. Koustubha Upadhyaya, an advisor to the Ministry of Ayush, attended the workshop as the Chief Guest. He emphasized the importance of social engagement with the elderly and the need for investment in initiatives aimed at fostering both physical and mental activities in older adults. Prof. (Vaidya) Pradeep Kumar Prajapati, Director of AIIA, echoed these sentiments, encouraging broader dissemination of such health interventions and recognizing the joint family system’s positive impact on elder care.
Contributions from esteemed professionals including Dr. Suneela Garg and Dr. Suman Ray further enriched the workshop discussions. Among other highlights was the launch of the book “Holistic Approach for Healthy Aging,” marking a significant milestone in promoting this vital topic.
The All India Institute of Ayurveda serves as an autonomous body under the Ministry of Ayush, committed to advancing Ayurveda through clinical services, education, research, and public health endeavors.
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