ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE MANAGEMENT: AN INTEGRATED OVERVIEW Pathrikar Anaya 1 *, 2. Dwivedi Amarprakash 2 1. Professor, Kayachikitsa, AVPM’s Ayurved Mahavidyalaya, Sion, Mumbai, India 2. Professor, School of Ayurveda, D. Y. Patil University, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India Corresponding Author: Dr. Pathrikar Anaya , M.D., Ph.D. (Kayachikitsa- Ayurveda medicine) Professor, Kayachikitsa, AVPM’s Ayurved Mahavidyalaya, Sion, Mumbai, India Email: anaya.pathrikar@gmail.com ABSTRACT Background- Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia and can be defined as a slowly progressive neurodegenerative disease. The clinical manifestation includes loss of cognitive functioning- thinking, remembering and reasoning and behavioral abilities. The definitive etiology of this condition is unknown and presently, there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, although there are available treatments that just improve the symptoms. In Ayurveda, such condition is considered primarily as type of Manas vyadhi and can be co-related with Jara janya Smrutibhramsh. Method- The article is based on a review of an integrated management of Alzheimer’s disease. Materials related to concept of Alzheimer’s disease, aetiology, patho-physiology, sign and symptoms and available treatment options have been collected from Ayurvedic and modern medicine textbooks, various websites, electronic media and articles. Result & Conclusion- The article attempts to simplify Alzheimer’s disease management and touches maximum aspects of this disease with an integrated approach (Ayurvedic and modern medicine). The holistic approach by integrating salutary lifestyle, detoxification by Panchkarma and integrative palliative medicine will definitely prove effective in the management of Manas vyadhi with special reference to Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease. Keywords: Manas vyadhi; Smrutibhramsh; Rasayan; Dementia; Alzheimer’s disease INRODUCTION Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common type of dementia and can be defined as a slowly progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by neurotic plaques and neurofibrillary tangles as a result of amyloid-beta peptide’s (Aβ) accumulation in the most affected area of the brain, the medial temporal lobe and neocortical structures [1]. Alois Alzheimer noticed a presence of amyloid plaques and a massive loss of neurons while examining the brain of his first patient that suffered from memory loss and change of personality before dying and described the condition as a serious disease of the cerebral cortex. Later on, this medical condition was named as Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s is usually seen in age of 65 and above in which 4% to 5% cases are of early onset.[ 2] According to World Health Organization (WHO), 35.6 million people are suffering from dementia worldwide and which may further increase to 115.4 million by 2050.[3] Several criteria have been proposed for a more accurate diagnosis of AD, including clinical biomarkers, bodily fluids, and imaging studies. Despite that, the treatment of AD remains symptomatic, without alteration in the disease’s prognosis. Moreover, at present, there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, although there are available treatments that just improve the symptoms [4, 5]. In Ayurveda, this condition is considered as a type of Vataj -Manas vyadhi seen in late middle age (around 40-60 year) and can be co-related with Jara janya Smrutibhramsh. Hence, the objective of Journal of Interdisciplinary Cycle Research Volume XIII, Issue XII, December/ 2021 ISSN NO: 0022-1945 Page No: 360