The Therapeutic Potential of Dietary Phytochemicals in Age-Related Neurodegenerative Disorders

In recent times, neurodegenerative diseases have become a global health concern, particularly among the elderly. This may be attributed to the increased risk of neuronal death due to age. Moreover, the underlying mechanisms of neurodegeneration are largely driven by age-related processes that include oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction(definition), and inflammation. Despite extensive research efforts, however, neurodegenerative disorders still remain incurable as current therapeutic strategies provide limited efficacy as well as severe side effects. For these reasons, dietary phytochemicals are being considered as preventive strategies because they have potential neuroprotective functions against age-related neurodegeneration. This review summarizes the mechanisms underlying age-related neurodegeneration and highlights the current challenges in their treatment and management. It also discusses the potential of dietary phytochemicals as complementary interventions, focusing on their neuroprotective functions and mechanisms of action. Finally, challenges surrounding the use of dietary phytochemical interventions in controlling age-related neurodegenerative disorders are addressed and solutions to these challenges based on available research are discussed.