Coenzyme Q10, Ageing and the Nervous System: An Overview.

David Mantle,Iain P Hargreaves,Robert A Heaton

doi:10.3390/antiox11010002

Abstract

The ageing brain is characterised by changes at the physical, histological, biochemical and physiological levels. This ageing process is associated with an increased risk of developing a number of neurological disorders, notably Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. There is evidence that mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress play a key role in the pathogenesis of such disorders. In this article, we review the potential therapeutic role in these age-related neurological disorders of supplementary coenzyme Q10, a vitamin-like substance of vital importance for normal mitochondrial function and as an antioxidant. This review is concerned primarily with studies in humans rather than in vitro studies or studies in animal models of neurological disease. In particular, the reasons why the outcomes of clinical trials supplementing coenzyme Q10 in these neurological disorders is discussed.

Highlights

The ageing brain is characterised by changes at the physical, histological, biochemical and physiological levels
Cellular damage resulting from free radical-induced oxidative stress has been implicated in both normal ageing and in various neurodegenerative disorders [8]
Ageing is associated with an increased risk of developing a number of neurological disorders, including dementia (Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia), Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and stroke

Summary

Introduction

The ageing brain is characterised by changes at the physical, histological, biochemical and physiological levels. The volume of the brain shrinks with increasing age; this process appears to begin after the age of forty and is marked after the age of seventy [1]. The volumes of both white and grey matter are reduced with increasing age [3]. Whilst numbers of glial cells may not be significantly reduced with ageing, the supportive role of astrocytes, oligodenrocytes and microglia may compromised, rendering neurons more susceptible to damage [5]. There is evidence of mitochondrial dysfunction in brain tissue with increasing age, both with regard to energy production and to increased generation of free radical species [7]. Cognitive function is affected by ageing, the speed of information processing and memory [9].

Neurological Disorders and Ageing

Coenzyme Q10 and Ageing

Findings

Summary