Nutrition and Healthy Aging: Simple foods to
combat oxidative stress and inflammation
Daniel Linseman, Ph.D.Professor, Department of Biological Sciences
Associate Executive Director
Knoebel Institute for Healthy Aging
Senior Scientist and Vice President
Eleanor Roosevelt Institute
University of Denver
Knoebel Institute Academy Webinar
Healthy brain aging is an importantaspect of overall healthy aging
Dreamstime.com
Current therapies for Alzheimer’s andParkinson’s disease, as well as many other
neurodegenerative disorders, only alleviatesymptoms of the disease but do not slow or
halt the underlying molecular pathology
The rapidly expanding population of elderlypeople who will become increasingly
susceptible to these diseases representsan impending health care crisis
in the U.S. and around the world
•J Gerontology. 1956 Jul;11(3):298-300.
Aging: a theory based on free radical and radiation chemistry
D HARMAN
Free radical and oxidative stresstheory of aging
Front Cell Dev Biol. 2021 Feb 11;9:628157.
Beneficial and Detrimental Effects of Reactive Oxygen Species on Lifespan: A
Comprehensive Review of Comparative and Experimental Studies
Hazel J Shields, Annika Traa, Jeremy M Van Raamsdonk
Aging is the greatest risk factor for a multitude of diseases including
cardiovascular disease, neurodegeneration and cancer. Despite decades of
research dedicated to understanding aging, the mechanisms underlying the
aging process remain incompletely understood. The widely-accepted free
radical theory of aging (FRTA) proposes that the accumulation of oxidative
damage caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS) is one of the primary
causes of aging.
As we age our antioxidant defenses weakenand free radicals go unchecked
AOX ROS
Some exogenous antioxidants are alsoknown as nutraceutical antioxidants
Where are Nutraceutical Antioxidants Found?
Nutraceutical antioxidants to combatAlzheimer’s disease and dementia
Green Tea EGCG
Am J Clin Nutr. 2006 Feb;83(2):355-61.
Green tea consumption and cognitive function: a cross-sectional
study from the Tsurugaya Project 1.
Kuriyama S, Hozawa A, Ohmori K, Shimazu T, Matsui T, Ebihara S,
Awata S, Nagatomi R, Arai H, Tsuji I.
Division of Epidemiology, Department of Public Health and Forensic
Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai,
Japan. [email protected]
Conclusion: “A higher consumption of
green tea is associated with a lower
prevalence of cognitive impairment in
humans.”
Green Tea EGCG effects on cognitivefunction in the elderly
Nutraceutical antioxidants to combatAlzheimer’s disease and dementia
Turmeric Curcumin
http://www.turmericindia.com/
Curcumin effects on cognitive function
in the elderly
Cognitive Decline and Dementia
Wondering if curcumin might protect aging brains from
cognitive decline, Asian scientists conducted an
epidemiological study of curry consumption and cognitive
function among the elderly. They found that men and women
who consumed turmeric-laced curry “occasionally,” “often,” or
“very often,” had significantly better scores on a standardized
test of mental status than subjects who “never or rarely”
consumed curry. The investigators described these findings as
“tentative evidence of better cognitive performance from curry
consumption in nondemented elderly Asians…”
Ng TP, Chiam PC, Lee T, et al. Curry consumption and cognitive function in the elderly. Am J Epidemiol. 2006 Nov 1;164(9):898-906.
Nutraceutical antioxidants to combatParkinson’s disease
Red wine Resveratrol and the French Paradox
Resveratrol is protective in animal modelsof Parkinson’s disease
Eur J Pharmacol. 2008 Dec 14;600(1-3):78-82. Epub 2008
Oct 10.
Neuroprotective effect of resveratrol on 6-OHDA-induced
Parkinson's disease in rats.
Jin F, Wu Q, Lu YF, Gong QH, Shi JS.
Department of Pharmacology, Zunyi Medical College, Zunyi,
PR China.
From the journal:
Food & Function
Resveratrol alleviates motor and cognitive deficits and neuropathology
in the A53T α-synuclein mouse model of Parkinson's disease
Li-fan Zhang,†ab Xiao-lin Yu,†a Mei Ji,a Shu-ying Liu,a Xiao-ling
Wu,b Yu-jiong Wang*b and Rui-tian Liu
Nutraceutical antioxidants to combatParkinson’s disease
Five Brain Foods
to Improve Brain Healthhttp://www.nutritiongurus.com.au/five-brain-foods-to-improve-brain-
health/
“The consumption of chocolate is significantly higher in
Parkinson’s Disease patients compared to controls,
while consumption of non-chocolate sweets was similar
in both groups”
“A possible explanation for the higher chocolate
consumption is patients with Parkinson’s
disease might be the high content of biologically
active compounds with potential
antiparkinsonian effects in cocoa and thus
chocolate…”http://www.shockmd.com/2009/08/14/chocolate-consumption-increased-in-parkinsons-disease/
Some simple changes/additions to your dietcan make a big difference in how YOU and
YOUR BRAIN ages!Green tea EGCG Turmeric Curcumin
Red wine Resveratrol Cocoa Procyanidins
Berry Anthocyanins Whey Protein
Rosemary Polyphenols Kiwi/Soy PQQ
Red Dragon Fruit Betacyanins
And many others….
Some helpful resources
Nia.nih.gov/about/stay-connected