Flavonoids: A Promising Neuroprotectant and Its Salutary Effects on Age-Related Neurodegenerative Disorders

Neurodegenerative disorders have become one of the most serious threats to global civilization in recent years. According to present data and future projections, the number of dementia cases will dramatically rise from 13.5 million cases in 2000 to 21.2 million in 2025 and 36.7 million in 2050. Medical advancements have increased human life expectancy and led to a rise in neurodegenerative disorders, which pose a growing social and economic burden. Unfortunately, the onset or advancement of these diseases cannot be stopped or slowed down by existing medication or therapy. Subsequently, there is an immediate need to develop alternative strategies that can prevent, delay, and even cure neurodegeneration. Recent research to understand the relationship between a healthy lifestyle, nutrition, and diseases indicates that nutritional interventions could be a possible and effective way to protect against age-related neurodegenerative disorders. Emerging evidence has revealed that dietary consumption of flavonoids significantly improves human memory and neuro-cognitive capabilities and inhibits or slows down the neuronal aging process and associated neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease. Flavonoids exert their beneficial effect via their ability to inhibit neuronal apoptosis, enhance neuronal function, and induce neuronal regeneration. Flavonoids induce neuronal proliferation and survival by stimulating various cellular signaling processes; it also reduces oxidative stress and promotes long-term potentiation in the brain’s hippocampal region. All these neuroprotective actions of flavonoids thus impede the development and progression of neurodegeneration. They could be a promising medical armamentarium to fight against the development and progression of age-related neurodegenerative disorders.