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| India drug gives Alzheimer's hope | India drug gives Alzheimer's hope |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Scientists in the UK and India are examining the ancient Indian ayurvedic medicine for possible use in drugs to treat Alzheimer's disease. | Scientists in the UK and India are examining the ancient Indian ayurvedic medicine for possible use in drugs to treat Alzheimer's disease. |
| Researchers say ayurveda works in the same way as conventional drugs for boosting mental agility in the disease. | |
| They found that the plants used in ayurveda acted to improve memory and concentration in Alzheimer's sufferers. | |
| Alzheimer's disease is a progressive, degenerative and irreversible brain disorder. There is no known cure. | Alzheimer's disease is a progressive, degenerative and irreversible brain disorder. There is no known cure. |
| The disease causes intellectual impairment, disorientation and eventually death. | The disease causes intellectual impairment, disorientation and eventually death. |
| Researchers from King's College, London and Jadavpur University in the eastern Indian city of Calcutta, studied five plants commonly used in ayurvedic medicine. | Researchers from King's College, London and Jadavpur University in the eastern Indian city of Calcutta, studied five plants commonly used in ayurvedic medicine. |
| They found that the plants acted to prevent the breakdown of neurotransmitters, improving memory and concentration in people with Alzheimer's disease - the most common form of dementia. | They found that the plants acted to prevent the breakdown of neurotransmitters, improving memory and concentration in people with Alzheimer's disease - the most common form of dementia. |
| The scientists are now trying to identify the chemical compounds responsible so they can be used to develop more effective drugs. | The scientists are now trying to identify the chemical compounds responsible so they can be used to develop more effective drugs. |
| Alternative medication | Alternative medication |
| Ayurveda is a 5,000-year-old Indian tradition of herbal and "alternative" medication. | Ayurveda is a 5,000-year-old Indian tradition of herbal and "alternative" medication. |
| Ayurvedic medicine uses herbs and spices like basil, turmeric, garlic, ginger and aloe vera, as well as yoga exercises, to treat physical and psychological problems. | Ayurvedic medicine uses herbs and spices like basil, turmeric, garlic, ginger and aloe vera, as well as yoga exercises, to treat physical and psychological problems. |
| The causes of Alzheimer's disease are not yet fully understood. | The causes of Alzheimer's disease are not yet fully understood. |
| There are some very rare inherited cases caused by genetic mutations, but these account for around 1% of people with Alzheimer's. | There are some very rare inherited cases caused by genetic mutations, but these account for around 1% of people with Alzheimer's. |
| Various types of therapy are used to try to stimulate Alzheimer's patients. | Various types of therapy are used to try to stimulate Alzheimer's patients. |
| These include: psychological methods, art therapy, music therapy, playing with toys. | These include: psychological methods, art therapy, music therapy, playing with toys. |
| Some health professionals try to encourage patients to reminisce about past memories as a way to reduce depression without the use of drugs. | Some health professionals try to encourage patients to reminisce about past memories as a way to reduce depression without the use of drugs. |
| A variety of drug treatments have been shown to benefit patients. None are a cure, but they can temporarily relieve some of the symptoms in some patients. | A variety of drug treatments have been shown to benefit patients. None are a cure, but they can temporarily relieve some of the symptoms in some patients. |