Mitigation of Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease with Lipophilic Vitamins and Their Derivatives: Preclinical and Clinical Evidence

Recent research has been exploring the link between vitamin deficiencies and the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative ailments such as cognition impairment, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Lipophilic vitamins A, D, E and K, offer a range of health benefits, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective characteristics, which are crucial for sustaining nerve myelination and neurotransmission in different brain functions. The neuroprotective role of lipophilic vitamins has been demonstrated by a number of preclinical and clinical studies, with a special focus on early-detection of AD. Such experimental and clinical investigations offer an important cost-effective strategy for the management of neurodegenerative disorders with different dietary supplements and nutraceuticals containing lipophilic vitamins. While the aetiology of AD is still elusive, experimental studies and histopathology of human brain has suggested a reduction in brain volume, oligomerisation and subsequent stabilisation of Aβ fibrils, coupled with phagocyte elimination, as the primary mechanism involved in the reduction of oxidative stress. This,in turn, slows the progression of cognitive decline. However, the underlying mechanisms of action of lipophilic vitamins are complex, and further studies are needed to bridge the gap in our knowledge. This book chapter offers an overview of the pathogenesis of AD and proposed usage of lipophilic vitamins, as well as the distribution these agents in nature. The physiological functions of each vitamin have been discussed in detail, supplemented with information to their biologically active metabolites and purported mechanisms of action. Finally, keeping in mind the novel delivery systems and advancements in the delivery of drugs into the brain, a section on nanotechnological interventions, as well as key challenges and future perspectives have also been addressed.