Nature’s Derivative(s) as Alternative Anti-Alzheimer’s Disease Treatments

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD), the 'Plague of Twenty-First Century,' is a crippling neurodegenerative disease that affects a majority of the older population globally. By 2050, the incidence of AD is expected to rise to 135 million, while no treatment(s) that can reverse or control the progression of AD are currently available. The treatment(s) in use are limited in their ability to manage the symptoms or slow the progression of the disease and can lead to some severe side effects. The overall care is economically burdensome for the affected individuals as well as the caretakers or family members. Thus, there is a pressing need to identify and develop much safer alternative therapies that can better manage AD. This review discusses a multitude of such treatments borrowed from Ayurveda, traditional Chinese practices, meditation, and exercising for AD treatment. These therapies are in practice since ancient times and reported to be beneficial as anti-AD therapies. Ayurvedic drugs like turmeric, Brahmi, Ashwagandha, etc., management of stress by meditation, regular exercising, and acupuncture have been reported to be efficient in their anti-AD usage. Besides, a combination of vitamins and natural dietary intakes is likely to play a significant role in combating AD. We conclude that the use of such alternative strategies will be a stepping-stone in preventing, treating, curing, or managing the disease.

Promoting Successful Cognitive Aging: A Ten-Year Update

“…In another study, 14 patients with MCI reported that a mindfulness-based stress reduction program was helpful in lowering stress levels and promoting wellbeing [ 334 ]. Meditation and mindfulness practices have also been shown to diminish release of excess cortisol and increase cerebral blood flow within the frontal lobes, a brain region that is especially important for cognitive functioning [ 335 ]. Additionally, yoga has been found to have a positive impact on biomarkers of cellular aging, presumably by regulating stress and inflammatory responses [ 336 ].…”

Role of Withaferin A and Its Derivatives in the Management of Alzheimer’s Disease: Recent Trends and Future Perspectives

“…Accumulation of damaging free radicals and alteration of the action of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide catalase and dismutase are also found in AD. In AD pathogenesis, OS is an essential factor, but the causes of abnormal free radicals production and the mechanisms by which redox equilibrium is changed are not clearly understood [ 67 , 96 ]. Published research showed that abnormal aggregation of amyloid β can assist the generation of ROS via a process involving activation of NMDA receptors, and that OS can increase the development and aggregation of amyloid β along with the promotion of τ phosphorylation and polymerization, producing a vicious circle that facilitates the development and progression of AD [ 97 ].…”

Personalized treatment interventions: nonpharmacological and natural treatment strategies in Alzheimer’s disease

“…Extracts of Ginkgo biloba, Olea europea and Cannabis sativa are also demonstrating strong antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties by downregulating the expression of proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF1α), interleukin 6, interleukin 1β (IL-6, IL-1β), nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB) and stimulating neuronal autophagy and expression of autophagy-related genes [153,157,158]. It has been reported that Ginkgo extracts lower the neuronal damage in multicellular network model [159] and in animals [160].…”

“…Ginkgo is widely used dietary supplement for improving cognitive functioning in healthy individuals, but also in dementia and AD, where it is often used as additional therapy with memantine [161,162]. The synergistic effects of memantine and flavonoids, terpenoids and ginkogolic acid found in Ginkgo extracts are reported to have stronger therapeutic effect than memantine alone [158,163]. Oleuropein aglycone and oleocanthal, derivatives found in olive oil, are free radical scavengers, strong inhibitors of cyclooxygenases and inhibitors of toxic protein aggregation resulting in improved cognitive performance in transgenic mice [153,157].…”

“…Several natural compounds could possibly be used in the treatment of AD due to their potential to regulate the levels of ACh. For example, ginsenosides, saponins derived from Panax ginseng, are shown to upregulate choline acetyltransferase [166], while huperzine A, ginger extracts (Zingiber officinale) and curcuma are natural inhibitors of AChE, which leads to increased ACh concentration [132,158]. Besides regulating the levels of ACh, ginsenosides have shown neuroprotective and anxiolytic effects by stimulating gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA-A) and glycine receptors, inhibiting N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors and degrading the Aβ, along with variety of other beneficial pharmacological effects on immune system and general homeostasis [167].…”