Oxidative stress and Alzheimer's disease

Abstract

Senile plaques, neurofibrillary tangles, and neuronal loss are three neuropathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Advanced understanding of the link between oxidative stress and the characteristics of AD neuropathology has placed oxidative stress in the center of AD pathogenesis. A large body of evidence indicates that oxidative stress potentiates AD neuropathology and disease progression, which promotes the use of antioxidants as treatments for AD. Indeed, experimental evidence suggests that antioxidants are promising drugs for AD. However, human clinical trials of antioxidant drugs result in inconsistent findings and limited success. Although the correlation between oxidative stress and AD is well established, the antioxidant as a treatment for AD is still an open question requiring further investigations.