Objective: PD Assessment of Ayurveda management using UPDRS -Motor, Hoehn & Yahr staging, Activity of Daily Living % (ADL).

Background: Ayurveda holistic management comprises an Ayurveda algorithm1 [which combines diet, lifestyle, yoga, drugs and detoxification] for management based on cause- effect analysis of clinical observations alongside a universal scheme of diagnosis and principles of treatment for particular disease types. Levodopa, the gold standard management for PD has minimal effect on progression of neurodegeneration 2. In this paper, we present clinical experiences of management of 15 PD patients (13 Idiopathic PD, 2 PD plus patients) at a university Ayurveda hospital in Bangalore, India.

Methods: A retrospective case series analysis. Patients diagnosed & monitored by Ayurveda physicians trained in both Ayurveda and modern medicine methods. Patients were assessed using the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale Motor section (UPDRS-M). Data presented in terms of UPDRS M, and Hoehn & Yahr staging and ADL %.

Results: 15 patients (5F, 10 M) with overall median age of PD patients 68 years and PD plus patients 74 years. Median duration of illness for PD patients 3 years & PD plus 3.25 years. Mean Hoehn & Yahr score ranged from 2.5 to 5 for PD & PD plus patients. Only for 1 patient the score went up showing disease progression and for the remaining patients the score did not change from baseline to post baseline. ADL ranged from 30% to 90% for PD and PD plus patients. In 1 patient there was an improvement in ADL score, for 3 patients scores worsened, for 11 patients there was no change from baseline to last visit. Median Baseline UPDRS-M score for PD patients was 18 and PD plus was 54.5. Median Final UPDRS-M score for PD patients was 21 and PD plus 53. Median Change from baseline UPDRS-M score for PD patients was -1 and PD Plus -1.5. Similar trends were seen in other subscales.

Conclusions: Ayurveda’s approach of personalized holistic management shows potential. A unique feature of Ayurveda management is its consideration of biophysical attributes (Guna). The competence of its strategy and consistency of clinical results needs further validation in larger clinical studies. Within Ayurveda knowledge system the results of systemic management of PD are predictable, however for wider communication larger clinical results supported by preclinical studies are necessary.

References: 1. Chakrapanidatta, Indradeva Tripati, Ramnath Dwivedy; Editor. Chakradatta of Sri Chakrapanidatta, Varanasi: Chowkamba Sanskrit Sansthan 2005. 2. Ferreira, J. J. et al. Summary of the recommendations of the EFNS/MDS-ES review on therapeutic management of Parkinson’s disease. Eur. J. Neurol. 20, 5–15 (2013).

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/clinical-experiences-in-whole-systems-ayurveda-management-of-parkinsons-disease/