The Concept of Alzheimer’s Disease in Unani System of Medicine: A Historical Perspective

Alzheimer’s disease is an irreversible progressive brain disorder which slowly affects memory and thinking skills and also the ability to carry out the simple tasks. Unani system of medicine has a history of clinical experience and rich traditional knowledge in the management of neuro-degenerative disorders. Unani Physicians, like Ali Ibn-e-Abbas Majusi (930-994 AD), in his book Kamilus sana; Abu Bakr Muhammad bin Zakariya Razi (850-925 AD), in Al Hawi; Sheikh-ur-Rais Ibn-e-Sina (980-1037), in his book Al-Qanoon fit tib; Ibn-e-Hobal Baghdadi (1122-1213), in Kitab-al-Mukhtarat fit tib; Abul Hasan Ahmed bin Muhammad Tabri (11th century), in Al Moalijat-e-Buqratiya; Azam Khan (19th century), in his book Rumooz-e-Azam have described conditions called Fasad-e-Zikr and Nisyan which are characterized by the loss of memory, resembling Alzheimer’s disease. They have not only mentioned its etiology and pathogenesis but also designed a specific line of treatment. These references can be traced up till Buqrat (Hippocrates) 377-460 B.C. and Jaalinoos (Galen) 130-200 AD.