CONCEPTUAL STUDY OF SMRITIBHRANSHA w.s.r. TO DEMENTIA IN GERIATRICS

Abstract

ABSTRACT:

Geriatrics is the Greek word in which “Geron†means old man & “Iatros†means healer. Geriatric medicine is a speciality that focuses on health care of elderly people. Ayurveda used the words such as Vriddha, Vardhakya, Jara to denote the aging. In Ashtang Ayurveda there are eight divisions from which Jarachikitsa is one of the important branch¹.

There are many disorders related to geriatrics including dementia. Dementia is broad category of brain diseases that cause a long term and often gradual decrease in ability to think and remember that is great enough to affect a person's daily functioning². The most common affected area includes memory, visual-spatial, language, attention & problem solving³. Old age is not a disease itself but the elderly are vulnerable to long term diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, stroke, diabetes,musculoskeletal& mental disorders. Many diseases results in dementia.

In Ayurveda classics there is no separate chapter regarding this condition but the signs along with pathogenesis of dementia can be understood in terms of Smritibransha.In this paper the Ayurvedic perspective of pathogenesis of dementia in geriatrics has been discussed & also suggested the guidelines of management of dementia through Ayurveda which can be beneficial for geriatric patients.