ABSTRACT
Abstract..............................................................................................................132 7.1 Introduction..............................................................................................132 7.2 Oxidative Stress .......................................................................................132 7.3 Mitochondria: Source And Target of Oxidative Stress............................133 7.4 Antioxidant Therapies..............................................................................135 7.5 Metabolic Antioxidants............................................................................135 7.6 Direct Antioxidants ..................................................................................137 7.7 Indirect Antioxidants................................................................................139 7.8 Conclusion ...............................................................................................141 Acknowledgments .............................................................................................141 References .........................................................................................................141
Oxidative stress is a key factor involved in the development and progression of Alzheimer disease (AD), and it is well documented that free-radical oxidative damage is extensive in the brains of AD patients. Consequently, antioxidants that prevent the detrimental consequences of oxidative stress are considered to offer a promising approach to neuroprotection and clinical benefits. Epidemiological and clinical studies present the benefits of increased antioxidant status for reduction of onset and controversial results of intervention studies. Antioxidants constitute a major part of the panel of clinical and experimental drugs that are currently considered for AD prevention and therapy. This chapter focuses mainly on three distinct classes of antioxidants: metabolic (α-lipoic acid, acetyl-L-carnitine, and idebenone), direct (vitamin E, estrogen, flavonoids, and terpenoids), and indirect (desferrioxamine and clioquinol).
