A review on the concept of aging in Ayurveda literature

Various aspects of aging in Ayurveda literature has been explored and correlated it with modern biological understanding.

The concept of longevity is better understood upon the baseline understanding of Aging ie. Jara. Manda Jara or Ajara is synonymous with longevity. Vriddhavastha/Jirnavastha/Jara (old age) is the period after 60 or 70 years of age. This stage of life becomes very crucial as degenerative changes occur in the body. Deterioration occurs to Dhatus, Indriya (perception power), Bala (strength), Virya (potency), Utsaha (enthusiasm), Paurusha (masculinity), Parakrama (valour), Grahana (reception), Dharana (retention), Smarana (memory), Vachana (speech). Brihatrayis and Laghutrayis were reviewed to analyze the various aspects of Ayu and Jara and correlated with research papers establishing the concept of aging in terms of evidence-based technological advancements. Databases like PubMed, Scopus were searched using keywords like Jara, Ayu Lakshana, Aging, Old age, Senescence, biomarkers, DNA, blood biochemistry, proteomics, genomics, microbiota, microbiome, androgen, estrogen, lipolysis, peripheral blood monocytes, collagen, cognitive function; with the help of Boolean operators.

Various aspects of Jara in Ayurveda have been analyzed by taking ample references from evidence-based technological advancements related to the physiology of aging. The indicators of biological aging based on recent researches like genomic irregularities, mitochondrial dysfunction, cellular senescence, altered protein expression, immunological markers, oxidative stress, pathological microbiota profile, telomere shortening in peripheral blood monocytes, lipolysis, and many other factors have been put forward for basic evidence in relation with Jara Lakshana.

Understanding the physiology of aging will give the insight to manage the elderly. So, the need of the hour is to develop strategies or to conduct more researches which prevent senile disorders and thus increase the health span for the future generation.