Phytochemicals and Vitagenes for a Healthy Brain

PolyphenolsPolyphenols are shown to impact oxidative stressStress, metabolic dysfunction and inflammation associated with onset and progression of nervous system disorders. According to hormesisHormesis, phytochemicals exhibit biphasic dose responseBiphasic dose response effects activating at low dose antioxidant signaling pathways resulting in upregulation of vitagenesVitagenes, as in the case of the Nrf2 pathway upregulated by plant polyphenolsPolyphenols. Interestingly, dysregulation of Nrf2 pathway can exacerbate selective susceptibility under neuroinflammatory conditions due to the high vulnerability of brain cells to oxidative stressStress. These findings have opened up new perspectives in medicine and pharmacology, as molecules inducing this defense mechanism appear to be possible candidates for novel cytoprotective strategies. Neurohormetic nutritional antioxidants represent an innovative approach to therapeutic interventionInterventions directed to potentiate the activity of vitagenesVitagenes, with possible delay of the ageingAgeing process, decrease in the occurrence of age-related diseases with the resulting prolongation of a healthy life span.