Nutritional Approaches for Healthy Aging of the Brain and the Prevention of Neurodegenerative Diseases

Increasing evidence suggests that mitochondrial dysfunction plays an important role in brain aging and in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. Dysfunction of single complexes of the respiratory system are frequently accompanied by deleterious side effects, such as decreased adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels, but also production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Physiological changes that occur during the normal aging of the brain may be exacerbated in vulnerable populations of neurons, initiating pathological processes that finally lead to neurodegenerative disorders. Rice bran, curcumin, anthocyanin-rich fruits, and olive polyphenols represent promising nutraceuticals for modulating mitochondrial function in the brain.