Burden of Memory Disorders and the Role of Traditional Medicine
The growing global population of elderly individuals has led to a dramatic rise in chronic diseases, including neurocognitive disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease. These conditions, which are expected to affect over 150 million people worldwide by 2050, are marked by memory loss, impaired judgment, and cognitive decline. While pharmacological interventions exist, their limitations in accessibility, affordability, and side effect profiles have prompted the exploration of holistic approaches. This review emphasizes traditional herbal medicines, which have long been used in South Asia and are gaining popularity worldwide as potential alternatives.
Identification of Traditionally Used Medicinal Plants
A two-phase approach was used to investigate memory-enhancing herbal medicines:
Mechanisms of Action
Several key mechanisms were identified through which these plants may exert beneficial effects on memory:
Evidence from Human Clinical Trials
While much of the evidence comes from preclinical (in vitro and animal) models, three plants have been evaluated in human trials:
Limitations and Future Directions
This review, while comprehensive, acknowledges certain limitations:
The authors advocate for future work including ethnobotanical surveys, broader regional studies, and detailed chemical analyses to support drug discovery.
Conclusion
This review highlights the promise of traditional South Asian medicinal plants in addressing memory loss and cognitive decline, particularly in Alzheimer’s disease. The identified plants not only reflect cultural wisdom but are increasingly supported by modern scientific evidence. Their diverse mechanisms—especially when acting in synergy—offer a rich reservoir for developing new, effective, and affordable treatments. Integrating this knowledge with modern medicine could pave the way for a more holistic, patient-centered approach to managing cognitive health.
Full text:
https://www.xiahepublishing.com/2835-6357/FIM-2024-00050
The study was recently published in the Future Integrative Medicine .
Future Integrative Medicine (FIM) is the official scientific journal of the Capital Medical University.FIM publishes both basic and clinical research, including but not limited to randomized controlled trials, intervention studies, cohort studies, observational studies, qualitative and mixed method studies, animal studies, and systematic reviews.
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Future Integrative Medicine
Herbal Medicine for the Mind: Traditionally Used Medicinal Plants for Memory Loss from the Indian Subcontinent
23-Apr-2025