Beneficial effects of nutraceuticals in healthy brain aging

Abstract Aging is a multifactorial process characterized by a decline in the biochemical and physiological functions of most organs. Oxidative stress, one of the plausible mechanisms for aging, is caused due to excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during normal metabolism. Excess ROS generated have the capacity to damage many biomolecules and the accumulated damage may partially contribute to senescence at the cellular level. The brain having a high oxygen consumption rate is excessively susceptible to oxidative damage. Increased oxidative stress may lead to impairment in the cognitive and motor functions of the brain. Besides providing symptomatic relief only, pharmaceutical drugs used in the treatment of many age-related diseases have various side effects. Nutraceuticals are natural dietary compounds with therapeutic potential capable of treating neurodegenerative diseases. Dietary interventions capable of reducing oxidative stress may also be able to mitigate the functional declines occurring in the brain during aging and thereby help in attaining healthy brain aging.