Exploring the Potential of Bioactive Compounds as Interventions for Dementia: Current Insights and Future Directions

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Dementia is a prevalent geriatric condition that affects a significant number of people around the world, and its prevalence is projected to reach 153 million people by 2050. It is characterized by a gradual decline in cognitive function. Despite extensive research efforts, the underlying pathology of dementia remains unclear, although multiple complex processes have been implicated. Presently, there is no definitive cure for dementia, and the discovery of pharmaceutical interventions capable of completely stopping the progress of the disease remains an ongoing pursuit. In recent years, the potential of bioactive compounds as alternative or complementary interventions for various diseases has gained substantial attention. 

OBJECTIVE: This review aims to critically evaluate the current utilization of bioactive compounds as interventions for dementia in older adults living with the condition. 

METHODS: A comprehensive search was conducted across scientific databases, including PubMed Central, Scopus, and Medline, resulting in the identification of 326 studies. The search strategy employed a combination of keywords such as “food”, “nutraceuticals”, “extracts”, “bioactive compounds”, “dementia”, “cognitive loss”, “Alzheimer's”, “geriatric”, “elderly”, and “seniors.” To ensure the relevance of the selected studies, preclinical trials, systematic reviews, and clinical trials involving subjects without dementia were excluded. In this analysis, only 16 eligible studies were selected and reviewed, focusing on various categories of bioactive compounds, including polyphenols, phospholipids, amino acids and peptides, algae, and probiotics. 

RESULTS: These studies highlighted these bioactive compounds as protective or treatment/management interventions that promise to improve cognitive function and mitigate memory loss in older adults. However, we identified some limitations that should be considered for future investigation. 

CONCLUSION: Dementia is a complicated and unique disease that usually exists with comorbidities. Due to this, investigating the efficacy of alternative interventions may be challenging. While the number of studies evaluating several bioactive compounds for dementia continues to increase, there is still a dearth of information on their effect on people living with dementia. The mechanisms of action in most of the studies were speculated, and very few considered possible comorbidities common in people with dementia. We recommend that future investigations evaluate the efficacy of these interventions in more extended studies involving larger populations and diverse demographics and comorbidities.

Keywords: Cognitive loss, dementia, elderly, geriatric, bioactive compounds, alternative medicine