The Role of Antioxidants in the Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer disease is a chronic, progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by cognitive impairment. It is the most common form of dementia in the elderly population and its impact is increasing worldwide. More than 47 million people worldwide are thought to be affected by Alzheimer disease. Age is the leading risk factor, and research has shown that people over 60 are more likely to develop Alzheimer. Oxidation events constantly occur in living metabolism, and reactive oxygen substances taken from outside accelerate these oxidation events. Cell damage that may occur as a result of the increase in free radicals in the living body has the potential to cause serious health problems. In order to prevent Alzheimer disease, which is associated with free radical levels, oxidant substances must be balanced with antioxidants. It may be possible to get rid of the negative effects of free radicals with a balanced diet and sufficient antioxidant intake. Therefore, antioxidants are an important defense mechanism to reduce the risk of oxidant-related diseases and for a better quality and longer life. In addition, metals such as iron, copper and zinc are important for antioxidant enzymes in the brain to function and for metabolic processes such as myelination and neurotransmitter synthesis. However, it is known that the accumulation of metals such as iron, copper and zinc in the brain and disruption of the homeostasis of these metals also pose a risk for Alzheimer disease pathology. Considering all these situations, the role of antioxidants in the treatment of Alzheimer disease is examined in this section.