A review on the nutraceuticals of Parkinson's disease

Abstract

Parkinson’s disease is a neurological condition that progresses over time and causes both motor and non-motor symptoms. Both patients and healthcare professionals must deal with the numerous challenges of this disease. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the potential therapeutic effects of nutraceuticals—natural chemicals with alleged health benefits—in the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD). Parkinson’s disease is influenced by a variety of factors, including aging, genetics and exposure to certain environmental toxins. Additionally, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction and protein aggregation play pivotal roles in the development of PD. The review integrated results from a variety of studies investigating the effects of different nutraceuticals, from preclinical models to clinical trials. This review focused on several key nutritional elements and dietary modifications that have a beneficial effect on a number of the pathogenic pathways, such as mitochondrial dysfunction and the antioxidant pathway, which are associated with the onset and progression of Parkinson's Disease. Hereby, we aim to explore the current body of research on nutraceutical interventions for Parkinson's disease, with a focus on their neuroprotective and symptomatic alleviation properties. Although numerous studies have been conducted on various nutraceuticals in relation to Parkinson's disease, currently there is no definitive evidence of their specific benefits in this condition. It is therefore strongly recommended that further studies and additional research be conducted in this area to gain a clearer understanding of the potential therapeutic effects.