Imagine you’re battling an army of brain invaders, but your weapons are limited. That’s the challenge we face with Alzheimer’s disease, a progressive neurodegenerative condition affecting millions worldwide. Currently, there’s no cure, only temporary relief for symptoms. But emerging research suggests a ray of hope in the form of dietary polyphenols – nature’s secret soldiers against Alzheimer’s. These powerful compounds, found in certain foods, possess a range of superhero-like abilities. They can reduce the formation of harmful plaques and tangles in the brain, fight oxidative stress, curb inflammation, and even promote the growth of new brain cells! Scientists are now exploring the potential link between gut health and polyphenol effectiveness. Could our gut microbiome be key players in maximizing the benefits of these nutritional superheroes? If you’re curious to learn more about this innovative approach to Alzheimer’s treatment, dive into the fascinating world of dietary polyphenols and their potential impact on combating this formidable condition.

Alzheimer′s disease (AD) is an irreversible progressive neurodegenerative disease affecting approximately 50 million people worldwide. It is estimated to reach 152 million by the year 2050. AD is the fifth leading cause of death among Americans age 65 and older. In spite of the significant burden the disease imposes upon patients, their families, our society, and our healthcare system, there is currently no cure for AD. The existing approved therapies only temporarily alleviate some of the disease’s symptoms, but are unable to modulate the onset and/or progression of the disease. Our failure in developing a cure for AD is attributable, in part, to the multifactorial complexity underlying AD pathophysiology. Nonetheless, the lack of successful pharmacological approaches has led to the consideration of alternative strategies that may help delay the onset and progression of AD. There is increasing recognition that certain dietary and nutrition factors may play important roles in protecting against select key AD pathologies. Consistent with this, select nutraceuticals and phytochemical compounds have demonstrated anti-amyloidogenic, antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and neurotrophic properties and as such, could serve as lead candidates for further novel AD therapeutic developments. Here we summarize some of the more promising dietary phytochemicals, particularly polyphenols that have been shown to positively modulate some of the important AD pathogenesis aspects, such as reducing β-amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles formation, AD-induced oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and synapse loss. We also discuss the recent development of potential contribution of gut microbiome in dietary polyphenol function.

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