Composition including nicotinamide as an active ingredient for preventing or treating alkylating agent-induced apoptotic neurodegeneration

The present invention relates to a composition and functional health food including nicotinamide for preventing or treating alkylating agent-induced apoptotic neurodegeneration, to a method for preventing or treating alkylating agent-induced apoptotic neurodegeneration by administering nicotinamide or a composition including nicotinamide, and to the use of nicotinamide for producing drugs for preventing or treating alkylating agent-induced apoptotic neurodegeneration. According to the present invention, nerve cells can be protected against neurotoxicity induced by anticancer agents such as thiotepa, and therefore the composition can be effectively used for treating or preventing alkylating agent-induced apoptotic neurodegeneration. Also, the compositions of the present invention can be effectively used for treating or preventing neurodegeneration, which is a side effect caused by treatment using anticancer agents.