Evaluating the Neuroprotective Effects of Personalized Ayurvedic Integrative Therapy on Cognitive Function, Brain Connectivity, and Neuroinflammatory Biomarkers in Early Neurodegenerative Disorders: A Prospective Clinical Study

Vollständiger Abstract

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Background: Early neurodegenerative disorders are characterized by progressive cognitive impairment, altered functional brain connectivity, oxidative stress, and chronic neuroinflammation. Conventional treatments provide limited disease-modifying benefits, creating interest in safe, personalized integrative approaches. Ayurveda combines individualized herbal therapy, dietary regulation, yoga, meditation, sleep optimization, and cognitive stimulation, which may influence multiple neurobiological pathways. Objective: To evaluate the neuroprotective effects of personalized Ayurvedic integrative therapy on cognitive function, functional brain connectivity, neuroinflammatory biomarkers, and quality of life in patients with early neurodegenerative disorders. Methods: This prospective clinical study enrolled adults with mild cognitive impairment or an early-stage neurodegenerative disorder who were receiving stable standard medical care. Participants underwent a 16-week personalized Ayurvedic integrative programme based on clinical characteristics and Ayurvedic assessment. The intervention included standardized Ayurvedic formulations, individualized dietary counselling, yoga, breathing exercises, meditation, sleep management, and cognitive training. The primary outcome was change in Montreal Cognitive Assessment scores. Secondary outcomes included domain-specific neuropsychological performance, resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging connectivity, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, tumour necrosis factor-alpha, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, daily functioning, psychological well-being, and quality of life. Results: The integrative intervention was associated with improvements in global cognition, attention, executive functioning, and memory. Functional imaging demonstrated strengthened connectivity within cognition-related neural networks. Inflammatory biomarker levels decreased, while brain-derived neurotrophic factor increased. Improvements were also observed in sleep, mood, daily functioning, and quality of life. The programme was generally well tolerated, with no serious intervention-related adverse events. Conclusion: Personalized Ayurvedic integrative therapy may provide beneficial adjunctive effects on cognitive performance, brain-network function, and neuroinflammatory activity in early neurodegenerative disorders. Larger randomized controlled trials with longer follow-up are required to confirm these preliminary findings. Keywords: Ayurveda; neurodegeneration; cognitive impairment; brain connectivity; neuroinflammation; integrative medicine.