Head Elizabeth
Department of Neurology, Institute for Brain Aging & Dementia, University of California, 1259 Gillespie Neuroscience Research Facility, Irvine, CA 92697-4540, USA.
Neurochem Res. 2009 Apr;34(4):670-8. doi: 10.1007/s11064-008-9808-4. Epub 2008 Aug 6.
Oxidative damage in the brain may lead to cognitive impairments in aged humans. Further, in age-associated neurodegenerative disease, oxidative damage may be exacerbated and associated with additional neuropathology. Epidemiological studies in humans show both positive and negative effects of the use of antioxidant supplements on healthy cognitive aging and on the risk of developing Alzheimer disease (AD). This contrasts with consistent behavioral improvements in aged rodent models. In a higher mammalian model system that naturally accumulates human-type pathology and cognitive decline (aged dogs), an antioxidant enriched diet leads to rapid learning improvements, memory improvements after prolonged treatment and cognitive maintenance. Cognitive benefits can be further enhanced by the addition of behavioral enrichment. In the brains of aged treated dogs, oxidative damage is reduced and there is some evidence of reduced AD-like neuropathology. In combination, antioxidants may be beneficial for promoting healthy brain aging and reducing the risk of neurodegenerative disease.
大脑中的氧化损伤可能导致老年人出现认知障碍。此外，在与年龄相关的神经退行性疾病中，氧化损伤可能会加剧，并与其他神经病理学变化相关联。人类流行病学研究表明，服用抗氧化剂补充剂对健康的认知老化以及患阿尔茨海默病（AD）的风险既有积极影响，也有消极影响。这与老年啮齿动物模型中持续出现的行为改善形成对比。在一个自然会积累人类类型病理变化和认知衰退的高等哺乳动物模型系统（老年犬）中，富含抗氧化剂的饮食会使学习能力迅速提高，经过长期治疗后记忆力得到改善，并且认知功能得以维持。通过增加行为丰富度，认知益处可进一步增强。在接受治疗的老年犬大脑中，氧化损伤减少，并且有一些证据表明类似AD的神经病理学变化有所减轻。综合来看，抗氧化剂可能有助于促进大脑健康老化并降低神经退行性疾病的风险。
