Oxidative stress and the brain: An insight into cognitive aging

Abstract

The last two decades has witnessed accumulating evidences in favour of oxidative stress as a causative link between normal brain aging and several neuropathological conditions. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) is considered a major factor contributing to decline in brain function with aging. Cognitive impairment and oxidative stress are common occurrences in old age and are often traceable to events such as increased lipid peroxidation and protein oxidations in specific cognitive regions of the brain, the hippocampus and cerebral cortex. With the advent of various cognitive tests, oxidative pathology is further confirmed by behavioural changes in animal and humans as well. While much of the biomedical research is concentrating on methods to cure aging related neurodegeneration and cognitive decline, biogerontologists are seeking something larger with a view to finding ways to prevent it at its root. Here we discuss and highlight the possibilities of curtailing the cognitive deficits during normal and pathological aging through evidences in favour of vitamin and non-vitamin supplements -in an effort to run the biological clock backwards and extend healthy brain function.