Resource Talk on Tibetan Medicine and Buddhist Approaches to Aging and Care for Dying People  at Men-Tsee-Khang Sowa-Rigpa Medical College

On May 26, 2023, a resource talk on ‘Tibetan Medicine and Buddhist Approaches to Aging and Care for Dying Peoplewas organized by the College wherein Dr. Tenzin Namdul, TMD, PhD, Assistant Professor, Director of Tibetan Healing Initiative Program, Center for Spirituality & Healing, University of Minnesota was the invited guest speaker. The talk was attended by around 80 people including all the Men-Tsee-Khang Sowa-Rigpa Medical college students, faculty members, hospital staff, all the research doctors and other interested members of the institute. Dr. Tenzin Namdul spoke about Healthy Aging, Cognitive Impairment, Dementia and Alzheimer’s Diseasethrough his recent concluded study on Cognitive and Physical Resilience and how it may influence Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias among Tibetan Buddhist monks in south India. He further explains the very purpose for conducting this specific research in a Tibetan monastic setup, Monastery as the main partner and collaborators, the adopted study methods including questionnaire detailing the survey, physical examination, clinical cognitive, interviews, self reported medical history, and duration of meditation practices. The sleep duration of the study population, that has been measured by ActiGraph and the overall findings of this research study and its future prospects. Apart from this, Dr. Namdul also shared his expertise on Field Study of the Physiology of Meditation Practitioners, the Tukdam Meditative State and Care for the Dying person. The session ended with an interactive Q&A relating to the potential contribution of Tibetan Medicine in combating Alzheimer’s disease, whether memorization has a role to play in maintaining a vibrant brain, and the role of cortisol, etc. Overall, it was an empowering session on research and a reiteration of the objective of such studies to benefit our communities in finding ways to look into our mental wellbeing when treating physical conditions.