Natural products for neurocognitive disorders

Abstract

Neurocognitive disorders are devastating. In 2016, 43.8 million people were estimated to have Alzheimer's disease worldwide. By 2050, this figure is expected to rise by 56%. Despite the extreme importance of the disease, the weapons available to us to combat it are very scarce. Natural substances may be a worthwhile option for the treatment and management of neurocognitive disorders. Some of these natural products have been shown to be capable of positively impacting memory, behavior, and functions of patients with Alzheimer's disease. These substances act on the disease mainly through antioxidant properties, the ability to eliminate oxygen radicals, the capacity to influence cell survival and programmed cell death, and the potential to condition amyloidogenesis. This chapter provides an overview of our current knowledge on the potential of natural products to be effective neuroprotective agents for Alzheimer's disease. Current evidence on Ginkgo biloba, bacopia, resveratol, curcumin, quercetin, kaempferol, capsaicin, and berberine, along with their adverse effects and drug interactions are discussed.