From Small to Big Molecules: How Do We Prevent and Delay the Progression of Age-Related Neurodegeneration?

Abstract

Age-related neurodegeneration in the brain and retina is complicated. It comprises a series of events encompassing different modes of degeneration in neurons, as well as inflammation mediated by glial cells. Systemic inflammation and risk factors can contribute to disease progression. Age-related conditions such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD) and Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) affect patients for 5 to 20 years and are highly associated with risk factors such as hyperhomocysteinaemia, hypercholesterolaemia, hypertension, and symptoms of mood disorder. The long duration of the degeneration and the wide array of systemic factors provide the opportunity for nutraceutical intervention to prevent or delay disease progression. Small molecules such as phenolic compounds are candidates for neuroprotection because they have anti-oxidant activities and can modulate intracellular signaling pathways. Bigger entities such as oligosaccharides and polysaccharides have often been neglected because of their complex structure. However, certain big molecules can provide neuroprotective effects. They may also have a wide spectrum of action against risk factors. In this review we use an integrative approach to the potential uses of nutraceutical products to prevent age-related neurodegeneration. These include direct effects of phenolic compounds and polysaccharides on neurons to antagonize various neurodegenerative mechanisms in AD, PD and AMD, and indirect effects of these compounds on peripheral disease-related risk factors.

Introductory Chapter: Concept of Neuroprotection - A New Perspective

“…When we use hot water to prepare decoction, what we can easily absorb is polysaccharides. Therefore, we have investigated polysaccharides extracted from different herbs [23].…”

A Review on Azapeptides: The Promising Peptidomimetics

“…Substituted N-amino imidazoline-2-one prepared by a base catalyzed cyclization of aza-proparglyl glycine residues and N-amino-imidazoline-2-one peptidomimetics have been developed [100,101]. Solid phase submonomer synthesis of azapeptide ligands of insulin receptor tyrosine kinase domain was reported [71].…”

Adalékok az időskori maculadegeneráció – etiopatogeneziséből fakadó – gyógyszeres intervenciójához

“…A rezveratrol közvetlenül elta karítja a hidroxilgyököket, a szuperoxidot és a DPPH-szabadgyököket, és gátolja a membrán-lipidek hidrogén-peroxid (H 2 O 2 -), illetve lipid peroxiddependens peroxidációját. Az RSV gyulladáscsökkentő hatásai mellett, nem specifi kus COX-1-és COX-2-inhibitor is [71].…”

“…Az anatómiai hatást a látás javulása is tükrözte, és a hatás kétoldali volt. Naponta történő szedés esetén a hatás egy évig vagy tovább is tartott, és szisztémás kedvező hatáso-kat is megfi gyeltek [71].…”