NEURODEGENERATION IN AYURVEDA A CONCEPTUAL REVIEW WITH CONTEMPORARY CORRELATION

Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease constitute a growing global health burden. Modern neuroscience attributes neurodegeneration to protein aggregation, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and neuroinflammation, whereas Ayurveda explains degeneration through derangements of Dosha and depletion of Dhatus. This conceptual review aims to elucidate neurodegeneration through Ayurvedic principles and correlate them with contemporary biomedical mechanisms. Classical Ayurvedic texts and relevant PubMed-indexed literature were reviewed to establish integrative correlations. Neurodegeneration is primarily understood as Mastulunga Majja dhatu kshaya (brain and nervous tissue depletion) with predominant Vata dosha involvement, particularly Prana, Udana, and Vyana Vata, leading to cognitive, speech, and motor impairments. Disturbances of Samana and Apana Vata explain gut–brain axis dysfunction and autonomic manifestations. Secondary involvement of Pitta and Kapha contributes to Dhatupaka (pathological metabolism), neuroinflammation, protein aggregation, and impaired metabolic clearance. The Samprapti of neurodegeneration is best explained through Dhatukṣhaya and Avarana models. This integrative framework aligns Ayurvedic pathophysiology with modern neurobiology and supports Ayurveda’s relevance in understanding neurodegenerative disorders.