Elucidating the Multi-Targeted Role of Nutraceuticals: A Complementary Therapy to Starve Neurodegenerative Diseases

Abstract

The mechanisms underlying multifactorial diseases are always complex and challenging. Neurodegenerative disorders (NDs) are common around the globe, posing a critical healthcare issue and financial burden to the country. However, integrative evidence implies some common shared mechanisms and pathways in NDs, which include mitochondrial dysfunction, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, intracellular calcium overload, protein aggregates, oxidative stress (OS), and neuronal destruction in specific regions of the brain, owing to multifaceted pathologies. The co-existence of these multiple pathways often limits the advantages of available therapies. The nutraceutical-based approach has opened the doors to target these common multifaceted pathways in a slow and more physiological manner to starve the NDs. Peer-reviewed articles were searched via MEDLINE and PubMed published to date for in-depth research and database collection. Considered to be complementary therapy with current clinical management and common drug therapy, the intake of nutraceuticals is considered safe to target multiple mechanisms of action in NDs. The current review summarizes the popular nutraceuticals showing different effects (anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, neuro-protectant, mitochondrial homeostasis, neurogenesis promotion, and autophagy regulation) on vital molecular mechanisms involved in NDs, which can be considered as complementary therapy to first-line treatment. Moreover, owing to its natural source, lower toxicity, therapeutic interventions, biocompatibility, potential nutritional effects, and presence of various anti-oxidative and neuroprotective constituents, the nutraceuticals serve as an attractive option to tackle NDs.

"The Drug Approaches and the Role of Healthcare Professionals in the Management of Alzheimer’s Disease"

“…Patients, for the most part, wish to keep their independence, but their families worry about their safety and well-being 41 . Moreover, in the future, drug companies and researchers in the field will have to pay special attention to nutraceuticals/ bioactive substances of plant-based origin, which have shown promising potential in the therapy of diseases in general, and neurodegenerative diseases in particular, this trend of "return to nature" being a very topical one 30,[42][43][44][45][46][47] .…”

Exploring the potential of mindfulness-based therapy in the prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases based on molecular mechanism studies

“…ND primarily affects individuals over the age of 65, and symptoms generally worsen over time ( Qiu and Fratiglioni, 2018 ). More than 10 million people worldwide now suffer from ND annually, and this number is rising each year along with the world’s aging population ( Behl et al, 2021 ). While ND poses a great threat to human health, it also increases the burden on the healthcare system.…”

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