Remember Ayurveda?

Scientists at Kings College in London and Jadhavpur University in Kolkata are collaborating on researching five plants commonly used in ayurvedic medicines. The researchers report that Alzheimer's patients treated with the plants demonstrated improvements in their memory and concentration levels.

The ayurvedic treatment is thought to work similarly to conventional medicines in boosting mental agility and affecting the brain's neurotransmitters. The scientists are now seeking to identify the chemical compounds in the plants responsible for the effect.

According to the Alzheimer's Association, "Alzheimer's disease is a progressive brain disorder that gradually destroys a person's memory and ability to learn, reason, make judgments, communicate and carry out daily activities."

Jadhavpur University researcher Partha Pratim Biswas, cautioned, "It is too early to say that we have found a solution to Alzheimer's. That would be too tall a claim. We are just trying and all we can say is we are on the right track."