New Delhi: The All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), New Delhi, reported improvements in quality of life, selected cognitive health assessments and other health indicators following a community-based Ayurveda intervention among the elderly in Faridabad district, Haryana.
The findings were presented at a workshop organised at AIIA on 24 October 2026. The project report has been sent to a committee of experts for its consideration. The results reported provide directions for future research on community-based Ayurveda approaches to healthy ageing, but further scientific evaluation is needed to demonstrate the effectiveness and safety of the intervention.
Program studied more than 5,500 elderly people
This initiative, Community-Based Ayurveda Intervention for Promotion of Physical and Mental Health in Elderly Population of Faridabad District, Haryana State was implemented under AIIA’s Public Health Initiative (PHI).
The program was held for three months in Faridabad district, wherein 5,594 persons in the age group of 60 to 80 years were screened and provided with Ayurvedic medicines. Another component on dementia screened 200 patients and administered Ayurvedic medicines for a period of four months.
The project aimed to investigate the potential of community-level Ayurveda interventions, and to explore approaches to promoting physical and mental health among older adults.
Early assessments found participants had several health problems. 67.73% of participants reported problems with vision, 43.05% were physically inactive and 6.85% had reduced cognitive function. Other problems included high blood pressure, high random blood glucose, low bone mineral density, constipation and sleep related problems.
Quality-of-life scores increased post-intervention
The total score on the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL) assessment increased from 292.0 to 326.3 during the first component of the study, a 60-day intervention.
AIIA also reported improvements in all the six parameters used to assess Agnibala which is an Ayurvedic concept associated with digestive and metabolic strength. Bone mineral density was also improved.
These results were reported as part of the project evaluation. The press release lacks sufficient methodological detail to allow for independent evaluation of the clinical significance of the changes.
Cognitive assessments indicate positive changes
The second part was about mental health. AIIA reported that scores on the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) trended toward normal levels, and the 6-CIT assessment showed improved cognitive performance.
In this component quality of life increased from 277.4 to 364.2. Improvements were also observed in selected biomarkers such as serotonin, acetylcholine (ACh), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and vitamin D.
The findings reported may help to guide future research on community based approaches for the care of the elderly. But changes in assessment scores and biomarkers alone are not evidence that an intervention is effective, or that it can prevent or treat dementia.
Experts in healthy ageing and elderly care
Dr. Koustubha Upadhyaya, Advisor to Ministry of Ayush was the chief guest and Prof. (Vaidya) Pradeep Kumar Prajapati, Director, AIIA presided over the program.
Dr Upadhyaya stressed the need for meaningful interaction with elderly people to understand their needs and motivate them to participate in physical and mental activities. He also highlighted the need for more investment in programs to improve the health outcomes of older people.
Prof. Prajapati appreciated the efforts of the Public Health Initiative team and stressed on the need for systematic study and wider dissemination of experiences from community-based Ayurveda healthcare services. He also pointed out the need to expand such programs to more older people and stressed the significance of family support in their care and mental health.
Presentations were made by Dr Suneela Garg, Director Professor and Head, Community Medicine, Maulana Azad Medical College, Dr Suman Ray, Senior Principal Scientist, CSIR–National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research (NIScPR) and Dr Lokesh Singh Shekhawat, Professor of Psychiatry, Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital.
The book Holistic Strategies for Healthy Ageing was also released as part of the program.
