Abstract
Background: Age-related cognitive impairment has a negative impact on mental health in the elderly. Ayurveda Rasayana and yoga positively impact cognition and mental health among the elderly. Aims: Present study evaluated the efficacy of Ayurveda Medhya Rasayana (AMR) and Integrated Yoga (IY) on mental health in elderly individuals who had mild cognitive impairment. Materials and Methods: This is a three arms-matched control trial. The study involved 72 elderly subjects who had a mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Of these, 25 received IY, 23 received AMR and, 24 persons received combined (IY plus AMR) intervention for 8 weeks. Stress, anxiety, depression, quality of life, and sleep were assessed by using Perceived Stress Scale, Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, Geriatric Depression Scale, Quality of Life in the elderly (CASP- 19) and Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index respectively at baseline and after eight weeks. Results: ANOVA shows significant improvement (p<0.05) in quality of life, stress, anxiety, and sleep at eight weeks compared to baseline for all three groups. Depression was significantly improved only in IY plus AMR group. In the between-group comparison, ANCOVA was performed as baseline variable scores were not matched. It shows there was significant difference in groups for stress F (2, 69) = 6.439(p<0.003), anxiety F (2, 69) = 7.581 (p<0.001) and sleep Quality (2, 69) = 4.0449 (p<0.022). Bonferroni post hoc test shows IY plus AMR significantly better than AMR intervention in improving stress, anxiety, and sleep. Conclusion: Combined Ayurveda Medhya Rasayana and Integrated Yoga intervention are better to improve stress, anxiety, and sleep among elderly having mild cognitive impairment than individual treatment. However, further studies are warranted. Keywords: Yoga; Traditional Herbal medicine; Medhya Rasayana; mental health; Brahmi; geriatric care
Highlights
Mental disorders have become the leading cause of disability across the globe
This study investigated the effect of eight weeks of intervention of Integrated Yoga, Medhya Rasayana, and a combination of both on mental health among the elderly with mild cognitive impairment (MCI)
The depression was significantly improved in the Integrated Yoga plus Medhya Rasayana intervention group only
Summary
Mental disorders have become the leading cause of disability across the globe. The aging process involves several changes in physiology and psychology. Another study showed that depression varies from 1% to 38% among the elderly population[4] Cognitive impairment is another major challenge in old age[5]. Anxiety and Depression prevalence are higher in people with Mild Cognitive Impairment and studies reported that the prevalence was 21% and 32% respectively [8,9]. Aims: Present study evaluated the efficacy of Ayurveda Medhya Rasayana (AMR) and Integrated Yoga (IY) on mental health in elderly individuals who had mild cognitive impairment. In the between-group comparison, ANCOVA was performed as baseline variable scores were not matched It shows there was significant difference in groups for stress F [2, 69] = 6.439(p
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