Antioxidant Intervention to Improve Cognition in the Aging Brain: The Example of Hydroxytyrosol and Resveratrol

Abstract

Both physiological and pathological aging processes induce brain alterations especially affecting the speed of processing, working memory, conceptual reasoning and executive functions. Many therapeutic approaches to reduce the impact of brain aging on cognitive functioning have been tested; unfortunately, there are no satisfactory results as a single therapy. As aging is partly contributed by free radical reactions, it has been proposed that exogenous antioxidants could have a positive impact on both aging and its associated manifestations. The aim of this report is to provide a summary and a subsequent review of the literature evidence on the role of antioxidants in preventing and improving cognition in the aging brain. Manipulation of endogenous cellular defense mechanisms through nutritional antioxidants or pharmacological compounds represents an innovative approach to therapeutic intervention in diseases causing brain tissue damage, such as neurodegeneration. Coherently with this notion, antioxidants, especially those derived from the Mediterranean diet such as hydroxytyrosol and resveratrol, seem to be able to delay and modulate the cognitive brain aging processes and decrease the occurrence of its effects on the brain. The potential preventive activity of antioxidants should be evaluated in long-term exposure clinical trials, using preparations with high bioavailability, able to bypass the blood-brain barrier limitation, and that are well standardized.

Hydroxytyrosol Interference with Inflammaging via Modulation of Inflammation and Autophagy

“…Therefore, here we reference studies that investigate the in vitro ( Table 1 ) and in vivo ( Table 2 ) modulation of inflammation by purified HTyr. Moreover, we focus our attention to data concerning the HTyr capability of directly affecting the mentioned inflammatory biomarkers of inflammaging, referring to other reviews for its antioxidant activity [ 63 , 96 , 103 , 110 , 111 , 112 , 113 , 114 , 115 , 116 ].…”

Properties and chemical compositions of monovarietal virgin olive oil at different ripening stages: A study on olive cultivation in Northwest China

“…Hydroxytyrosol and tyrosol are considered the most active phenolic antioxidants in olive oil from the Mediterranean diet (Terracina et al., 2022), which were derived from the hydrolysis of oleuropein aglycon and ligstroside aglycon, respectively (Gallardo‐Fernández et al., 2022; Papageorgiou et al., 2022; Youssef et al., 2010). These two compounds were found in high concentrations in the Koroneiki and Leccino VOO samples.…”

Cellular ROS and Antioxidants: Physiological and Pathological Role

“…Oxidative stress is commonly recognized as one of the main factors contributing to aging [20]. Antioxidants have been shown to prevent oxidative damage in cell aging [21]. Antioxidant treatment has demonstrated the ability to preserve skin health during aging [22].…”