AIIA Report on Ayurveda Intervention for Elderly Health in Faridabad
The All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), New Delhi, an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Ayush, Government of India, has reported findings from a community-based Ayurveda program conducted in Faridabad district, Haryana. The project titled "Community-Based Ayurveda Intervention for Promotion of Physical and Mental Health in Elderly Population of Faridabad District, Haryana State" aimed to study the potential of community-level Ayurveda-based interventions and assess approaches to promoting healthy ageing.
Under its Public Health Initiative, AIIA screened 5,594 people aged 60–80 years in Faridabad district over three months and provided them with Ayurvedic medicines. A separate dementia-focused component screened and provided Ayurveda-based medicines to 200 patients over four months. The initial assessment revealed several health challenges: vision-related problems in 67.73% of participants, physical inactivity in 43.05%, reduced cognitive function in 6.85%, along with high blood pressure, elevated random blood glucose levels, reduced bone mineral density, constipation, and sleep-related problems.
In the first intervention component, following a 60-day period, quality of life improvements were recorded with the total World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL) assessment score increasing from 292.0 to 326.3. Improvements were observed across all six parameters used to assess Agnibala (an Ayurvedic concept associated with digestive and metabolic strength), and an improvement in bone mineral density was also recorded.
In the cognitive health-focused second component, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores showed a shift toward normal levels, and the 6-CIT assessment indicated signs of improved cognitive performance. The quality-of-life score in this component increased significantly from 277.4 to 364.2. Positive changes were observed in biomarker levels including serotonin, acetylcholine (ACh), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and vitamin D.
The findings were presented at a workshop held at AIIA on October 24, 2026, where the project report was submitted to an expert committee. Dr. Koustubha Upadhyaya, Advisor to the Ministry of Ayush, emphasized the importance of meaningful social engagement with elderly people and encouraging their participation in physical and mental activities, while also highlighting the need for greater investment in such initiatives. Prof. (Vaidya) Pradeep Kumar Prajapati, Director of AIIA, stressed the importance of systematically studying community-based Ayurveda healthcare experiences and extending such initiatives to more elderly people, while also emphasizing the role of the joint family system in elderly care.
The workshop featured contributions from Dr. Suneela Garg (Maulana Azad Medical College), Dr. Suman Ray (CSIR-National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research), and Dr. Lokesh Singh Shekhawat (Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital). The book 'Holistic Approach for Healthy Aging' was released during the event, attended by institute faculty including Prof. (Dr.) Manjusha Rajagopala, Prof. (Dr.) Mahesh Vyas, Prof. (Dr.) R. K. Yadav, and Prof. (Dr.) Yogesh Badwe.
The report concludes that while these findings provide a basis for further investigation into community-based Ayurveda interventions, more extensive scientific evaluation, continued safety monitoring, and further studies are necessary to validate the findings and establish the effectiveness and safety of these interventions.