Obesity Associated Dementia Among Elderly – Role of a Plant Based Formulation

Abstract

The main object of the present study was to evaluate association between obesity and dementia in elderly people and its prevention and management by a herbal formulation. Under this clinical trial 80 men and women (aged 61 to 79 years,) underwent a detailed health evaluation, showing a high BMI with a major complaint of loss of memory and deterioration of other cognitive functions were treated with a novel herbal formulation containing hydro-alcoholic extract of Dioscorea bulbifera, Salacia oblonga and Hippophae rhamnoides in effective doses. Normal 58 aged (31 male and 27 female, BMI 18–25) with normal cognitive functions, and 57 (33 male and 24 female) underweight aged (BMI < 18 with poor mental abilities) were also treated with test formulation. The test drug exerted beneficial effects on BMI, mental functions particularly on memory and attention span, inflammatory marker CRP including Homocysteine, plasma leptin and adiponectin levels during six months of study period. It is concluded that test formulation enhanced the satiety, decreased appetite and fat absorption through regulation of 5-HT, leptin and adiponectin receptors involved in the onset of obesity. Thus, by regulating adipokines, memory, attention span and other cognitive impairments significantly improved among obese elderly demented subjects. Improvement in mental performance was also noticed in normal as well as under weight aged also following test formulation treatment. Pre-clinical toxicity studies revealed that drug is safe and can be given for longer time.