Unraveling the Mechanisms of Hydrophilic Vitamins in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s: Preclinical and Clinical Evidence

Alzheimer’s diseaseAlzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s diseaseParkinson’s disease (PD) are characterized by neuronal loss and cognitive and physical decline. The precise origins of these diseasesDisease remain unknown but oxidative damage, impaired proteosis and inflammationInflammation are believed to be causal elements in disease development. Hydrophilic vitaminsHydrophilic vitamins have harnessed attention due to their involvement in AD and PD, which accentuates their significance in neurology. Research and epidemiological data correlating hydrophilic vitamin levels and these diseasesDisease is yet to reach a consensus, with no established mechanismMechanisms, the co-relation remains uncharted. Thus, understanding the possible role of hydrophilic vitaminsHydrophilic vitamins which includes Vitamins C and B complex is becoming important. Both are important nutrients, part of our dietDiet and are responsible for prominent body functions including maintaining and improving brain healthHealth. Hydrophilic vitamins, which are renowned for their antioxidantAntioxidant characteristics, are necessary for the maintenance of several cellular processes, including DNA repair, neurotransmitter production, and antioxidative defences. Vitamin CVitamin C, a potent antioxidant, exerts neuroprotective effects in AD and PD models attributing to its scavenging free radicals and reducing oxidative damage. Furthermore, its ability to stimulate neurogenesis and control synaptic plasticity may hold promise for improving cognition. In contrast, B complex vitamins are essential for DNA repair and homocysteineHomocysteine​metabolismMetabolism. These vitamins are attractive targets for therapeutic approaches because their dysregulation is associated with an increased risk of neurodegenerative disorders. This chapter analyzes data from clinical trials, epidemiological studies, and preclinicalPreclinical studies investigating the possible mechanismsMechanisms and benefits of hydrophilic vitaminsHydrophilic vitamins in AD and PD.