Molecular Mechanism of Brain Aging: Protective Effects of Phytochemicals

Brain aging is an irretrievable process that occurs in the elderly population and inescapable phase of the entity. Aging is associated with complex and multifactorial portent with tedious decrement in behavioral and physiological actions. The decline in memory and cognition corresponds with the anatomical changes in neuronal plasticity with dendritic spines. This augments with neurochemical and neurophysiological alterations. Brain aging is unified by anatomical and physiological changes that include the brain weight and volume, synaptic density, thickness of cortex, and dysregulation of energy metabolism. Many features of aging are meticulous molecular mechanisms that are still unclear. The signaling pathway of brain aging embraces autophagy, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, cell proliferating capacity, senescent associated secretions, and epigenetical alterations. This chapter also discusses the novel phytochemical that acts as the antiaging agents. Phytochemicals have a profound effect on brain aging in many aspects which maintain chemical balances. Phytochemicals are secondary metabolites of the plants. The phytochemicals affect the modulation of cellular signaling pathways such as disruption in mitochondrial function, neuroinflammation, neurotropic factor deficiency, apoptosis, oxidative stress, and abnormal protein aggregation to conflict against age-related neurodegeneration. Phytochemicals like berberine, phenolic compound, resveratrol, omega 3 fatty acids, and cocoa and their actions on cellular signaling are widely discussed in this chapter.