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 Alzheimers disease (AD), Parkinsons disease (PD) and Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) affect patients for 5 to 20 years and are highly associated with risk factors such as hyperhomocysteinæmia, hypercholesterolæmia, 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.
Keywords: Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Age-related macular degeneration, flavonoids, stilbenes, resveratrol, glycoconjugates, neuroinflammation, delocalization, dismutase
Current Pharmaceutical Design
Title: From Small to Big Molecules: How Do We Prevent and Delay the Progression of Age-Related Neurodegeneration?
Volume: 18 Issue: 1
Author(s): Yuen-Shan Ho, David Chun-Hei Poon, Tin-Fung Chan and Raymond Chuen-Chung Chang
Affiliation:
Keywords: Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Age-related macular degeneration, flavonoids, stilbenes, resveratrol, glycoconjugates, neuroinflammation, delocalization, dismutase
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 Alzheimers disease (AD), Parkinsons disease (PD) and Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) affect patients for 5 to 20 years and are highly associated with risk factors such as hyperhomocysteinæmia, hypercholesterolæmia, 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.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Ho Yuen-Shan, Chun-Hei Poon David, Chan Tin-Fung and Chuen-Chung Chang Raymond, From Small to Big Molecules: How Do We Prevent and Delay the Progression of Age-Related Neurodegeneration?, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2012; 18 (1) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138161212798919039
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138161212798919039 |
Print ISSN 1381-6128 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4286 |

- Author Guidelines
- Bentham Author Support Services (BASS)
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Modulation of Neutrophil Function by Hormones
Current Immunology Reviews (Discontinued) Myeloperoxidase: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Current Immunology Reviews (Discontinued) Beta-Blocker Therapy for Septic Cardiac Shock: Fiction Or Realism?
Current Drug Therapy Identification of Bioactive Natural Products by Pharmacophore-Based Virtual Screening
Current Pharmaceutical Design The Role of Anti-Inflammatory Drugs in Respiratory Diseases - Pirfenidone, Penicillamine, Chloroquine and Chlorambucil
Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews Current Pharmaceutical Treatments and Alternative Therapies of Parkinson’s Disease
Current Neuropharmacology Antihypertensive Therapy in Children: Differences in Medical Approach Between the United States and Europe
Current Medicinal Chemistry Neuroimaging Findings Related to Behavioral Disturbances in Alzheimer's Disease: A Systematic Review
Current Alzheimer Research Chemical and Pharmacological Aspects of Heteroaryl-Nitrones
Current Medicinal Chemistry Recent Advances in Neuroinflammation Therapeutics: PPARs/LXR as Neuroinflammatory Modulators
Current Pharmaceutical Design The Role of Autophagy: What can be Learned from the Genetic Forms of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Chemokines as Drug Targets in Type 1 Diabetes
Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders - Drug Targets Histamine as an Anticonvulsant Inhibitory Neurotransmitter
Current Neuropharmacology Mesenchymal Stem Cells and their Exosomes: Promising Therapeutics for Chronic Pain
Current Stem Cell Research & Therapy Advancing Drug Therapy for Brain Tumours: A Current Review of the Pro-inflammatory Peptide Substance P and its Antagonists as Anti-cancer Agents
Recent Patents on CNS Drug Discovery (Discontinued) General Aspects of Metal Toxicity
Current Medicinal Chemistry The Phosphoinositide Signal Transduction Pathway in the Pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s Disease
Current Alzheimer Research FOREWORD
Current Neuropharmacology Novel Targets for Apoptosis Modulation: BAG3 Protein and Other Co- Chaperones
Recent Patents on Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Drug Discovery (Discontinued) Immunotherapy for Targeting Tau Pathology in Alzheimer’s Disease and Tauopathies
Current Alzheimer Research