Bioactive nutraceuticals and functional foods in neurodegeneration

Abstract

Neurodegenerative diseases are aging associated disorders, characterized by dementia, learning dysfunctions and neuronal loss. The pathogenicity of many neurodegenerative diseases is not known because these diseases are multifactorial disorders which involve complex mechanisms including disruption of-neurological cascade, protein misfolding, deposition of senile plaques and insoluble fibrils in the brain. Age related disorders can be managed by consumption of functional foods and nutraceuticals which could be fortified, enhanced or enriched foods that provides more health benefits beyond the essential nutrients. Foods from plant, animals, dairy and aquatic sources are rich in bioactive nutraceuticals and their uses could prevent the chronic degenerative diseases. These all sources of functional foods contain phytochemicals like polyphenols, alkaloids, carotenoids, anthocyanins and many more. These phytochemicals from functional foods help to enhance cognitive functions, learning ability, general brain and well being. In this chapter, we clearly focus on the effects of some functional foods and nutraceuticals as well as their possible mechanism of actions in the management of neurodegenerative diseases.