Patients and caregivers frequently asked about the effectiveness of alternative therapies and their use as treatments for MND.

In a recent study report that looked at the effects of ashwagandha, or Indian ginseng, in a SOD1 mouse model of MND, treatment of SOD1G93Amice with Withania somniferaextract improved motor performance and delayed disease progression.Withania somnifera reduced levels of misfolded SOD1and of phosphorylated NF-κB.

For around 3000 years Withania somnifera (WS), commonly known as ashwagandha or Indian ginseng, has been used in Ayurvedic and indigenous medicine around the world, and is thought to have powerful rejuvenating and life-prolonging qualities, and also have neuroprotective properties.This has been demonstrated in several models of neurodegenerative diseases including MND.

Further, the invention relates to the use of Mucuna pruriens seed powder or one or more Mucuna pruriens components, obtained from for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition for preventing, alleviating or treating neurological diseases.