Ashwagandha Root Extract Improves Sleep Quality and Mental Alertness in the Elderly

by | Aug 4, 2022 | 2020, Aging, Ashwagandha, Botanicals, Sleep

Written by Taylor Woosley, Staff Writer. 12-week supplementation of Ashwagandha root extract (600 mg/day) resulted in a significant increase in sleep quality (P<0.001) and mental alertness (P<0.034) compared to placebo. 

ashwagandha - botanicalsSufficient sleep is necessary to provide recovery and ensure optimal functioning during subsequent wakefulness 1. Sleep plays a critical role in brain function and is required for good physical health, mental health, and quality of life 2. The National Sleep Foundation recommends that older adults (>65 years) need about 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night 3. Furthermore, around 50% of older adults report chronic sleep complaints and prevalence rates of insomnia in older adults can ranges between 12% to 30% and may lead to long-term effects on the body 4.

One method of improving sleep quality is through use of adaptogens, which are defined as nontoxic substances that increase the body’s ability to resist the damaging effects of stress and promote normal physiological functioning 5. One such adaptogen, ashwagandha, contains over 50 chemical constituents including steroidal alkaloids and lactones, known as withanolides 6. The root extract of ashwagandha has been widely studied for its antioxidant, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and anxiolytic properties 7. Research shows that ashwagandha has GABA-mimetic abilities and has been used traditionally as a remedy for insomnia and cognitive functioning 8.

Kelgane et al. conducted a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the potential efficacy of ashwagandha supplementation on quality of life, sleep quality, and mental alertness. Subjects (n=50, aged 60-85) were assigned to one of two groups, the ashwagandha treatment group (n=25, 300 mg of ashwagandha root extract) or the placebo group (n=25) and consumed the capsules twice daily for 12 weeks. 39 participants completed the study. Subjects were screened for medical history, a physical examination, and were evaluated again at baseline and at week 4, week 8, and week 12.

Primary outcomes were participant’s quality of life which was assessed using the WHOQOL-BREF scale focused on physical health, psychological condition, social relationships, and environmental factors. Secondary outcomes included sleep quality, which was measured using the Sleepiness Scale, a questionnaire containing 4 items to evaluate the likelihood of falling asleep during daytime activities and by the Likert scale, a seven-point scale that analyzes overall sleep quality. Mental alertness was assessed on a three-point scale (alert, slightly drowsy, and extremely drowsy) which subjects would complete upon waking each morning.

Statistical analysis and multivariable analysis were used to compare treatment results and changes in questionnaire scores from baseline to the end of the study. After 12 weeks of supplementation, significant findings are as follows:

  • Baseline scores of the sleep scale were 7.53 ±87 in the treatment group, and improved to 6.79 ± 1.84 at week 4, 6.37 ± 1.83 at week 8, and 5.00 ± 1.89 at the end of the study (p<0.0001), signifying better health status and sleep quality compared to placebo.
  • Mental alertness on rising show improved outcomes in the ashwagandha group (1.05 ±23) compared to placebo (1.35 ± 0.587), (P<0.034).
  • Regarding sleep quality, at baseline, the mean and SD for the ashwagandha group was 5.76 ±66, while the placebo group was 5.73 ± 0.73. At the end of the study, the treatment group was 2.47 ± 1.07 and 4.3 ± 0.65 in the placebo group. Observed changes in the ashwagandha group and the placebo group were found statistically significant at week 8 (P<0.001) and at week 12 (P<0.0001).

In conclusion, supplementing with ashwagandha root extract was shown to help improve quality of sleep and mental alertness in elderly adults. Future research should explore the effects of different dosages of ashwagandha root extract on quality of life, sleep quality, and alertness. Study limitations include the use of a single study site and a small sample size which may not provide accurate results compared to that of a multi-centered study with a diverse subject group and longer study duration.

Source: Kelgane, Sunil B., Jaysing Salve, Prasanthi Sampara, and Khokan Debnath. “Efficacy and tolerability of Ashwagandha root extract in the elderly for improvement of general well-being and sleep: a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.” Cureus 12, no. 2 (2020).

© Copyright 2020 Kelgane et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License CC-BY 4.0., which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

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Posted August 4 2022.

Taylor Woosley studied biology at Purdue University before becoming a 2016 graduate of Columbia College Chicago with a major in Writing. She currently resides in Glen Ellyn, IL.

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