Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Oct 27: A community-based Ayurveda intervention conducted by the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) in Haryana’s Faridabad district recorded improvements in quality of life, Agnibala and bone mineral density among elderly participants, an official statement said on Tuesday.
Positive changes were also observed in cognitive health assessments, along with improvements in selected biomarkers, including serotonin, acetylcholine, DHEA and vitamin D, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Ayush.
Under its Public Health Initiative (PHI), the AIIA screened 5,594 people aged between 60 and 80 years in Faridabad district over three months and provided them with Ayurvedic medicines. Under a separate component focusing on dementia, another 200 patients were screened and provided Ayurveda-based medicines over four months.
The findings were presented at a workshop held at the AIIA, and the project report has been submitted to an expert committee.
In the first component of the project, improvements in quality of life were recorded following a 60-day intervention. The total score on the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL) assessment increased from 292.0 to 326.3.
Improvements were also observed across all six parameters used to assess Agnibala, an Ayurvedic concept associated with digestive and metabolic strength.
The initial assessment identified several health challenges among the elderly participants. Vision-related problems were reported in 67.73 per cent of participants, while 43.05 per cent were physically inactive and 6.85 per cent had reduced cognitive function.
Other concerns included high blood pressure, elevated random blood glucose levels, reduced bone mineral density, constipation and sleep-related problems.
The Ministry of Ayush said more extensive scientific evaluation, continued safety monitoring and further studies were necessary to validate the findings and establish the effectiveness and safety of the interventions.
The All India Institute of Ayurveda, New Delhi, is an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Ayush that aims to advance Ayurveda through education, research, clinical services and public health initiatives.