Fisetin: A Promising Approach to Promoting Cognitive Health
A plant-based antioxidant shows great potential for preventing and treating Alzheimer's and Parkinson's
Aaron Andrew Ang
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In a world in which life expectancy is increasing and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's are increasing, the search for effective prevention and treatment options is becoming increasingly important. A promising starting point is fisetin, a flavonoid that is found in various types of fruit and vegetables and is considered a potential protective factor for cognitive health due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
What is Fisetin?
Fisetin is a naturally occurring flavonoid found in many foods such as strawberries, apples, onions, and grapes. Its neuroprotective properties and ability to cross the blood-brain barrier make it a promising candidate for promoting cognitive health. In addition, fisetin is thought to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which may also help support cognitive function and reduce the risk of neurological diseases.
Why is Fisetin important?
Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's lead to loss of brain cells and cognitive functions. Oxidative stress and inflammatory processes play an important role in this. Fisetin could counteract these processes and thus protect cognitive health.
Possible benefits of fisetin:
· Improving cognitive functions
Studies show that fisetin can improve memory and learning by promoting the formation of new brain cells while reducing inflammatory processes in the brain.
· Protection against neurodegenerative diseases
In vitro studies suggest that fisetin may reduce the formation of amyloid plaques and tau proteins, which have been linked to the development of Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases.
· Improved blood flow to the brain
Fisetin could improve blood flow to the brain, which could have a positive effect on cognitive function.
· Reduction of oxidative stress
Through its antioxidant properties, fisetin can reduce oxidative stress in the brain, which can cause damage to brain cells and impair cognitive function.
What does the science tell us?
Animal studies have investigated the effects of fisetin on memory and brain function in mice with Alzheimer's-like symptoms. The promising results of these studies suggest that fisetin may improve memory performance by reducing neuroinflammation and inhibiting the formation of amyloid plaques in the brain, which has been linked to Alzheimer's disease.
Human studies
Initial human studies with fisetin are promising, but further research is needed to confirm the effectiveness and safety of fisetin in treating neurodegenerative disorders in humans.
What does the expert say?
DDr. Dietmar Rösler, a renowned expert in the field of neuroprotection and director of the institute INUMED in Austria, has provided some important insights into the potential and challenges of fisetin for cognitive health and longevity.
The positive effects of fisetin on health in old age
According to Dr. Rösler, eating foods or supplements that are rich in fisetin could well have positive effects on a range of age-related health problems.
The expected benefits would be that all oxidation-related wear and tear processes in our cells could take place more slowly because we become less “rancid” internally, so to speak. Polyphenols such as fisetin are nothing more than cellular lightning rods. In concrete terms, this means less cell aging and DNA damage, better function of the immune system, but also more energy through better protection of mitochondrial cell power plants. This would alleviate the course of most chronic diseases that we can understand at the cellular level today. And the big advantage of this is that with the appropriate dosage, no side effects are to be expected.
Fisetin compared to other antioxidants
Since there have been no human studies on fisetin so far, but only promising results from animal experiments, Dr. Rösler warns against jumping on the “hype bandwagon.” However, he notes that fisetin appears to be one of the most effective senolytics and joins a group of already known and proven antioxidants such as resveratrol, quercetin and curcumin. He has been using these nutrients to treat chronically ill patients for years.
Challenges when using fisetin
A major problem currently hampering the therapeutic use of fisetin is the classification as a “novel food” by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). This means: “Even if a nutrient could be proven to cure diseases such as cancer or Alzheimer's disease, it should not be brought onto the market as a result of this regulation,” says the expert.
Future and hope
Despite regulatory challenges, Dr. Rösler remains optimistic about the future significance of research findings for the prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. He sees promising approaches primarily in the area of neuroprotection, particularly in Alzheimer's disease.
References
- Ravula, A.R., Teegala, S.B., Kalakotla, S., Pasangulapati, J.P., Perumal, V. & Boyina, H.K. (2021). Fisetin, potential flavonoid with multifarious targets for treating neurological disorders: An updated review. European Journal of Pharmacology, 910, 174492. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejphar.2021.174492
- Bakhtiari, M., Panahi, Y., Ameli, J. & Darvishi, B. (2017). Protective effects of flavonoids against Alzheimer's disease-related neural dysfunctions. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, 93, 218—229. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2017.06.010
- Hassan, S.S.U., Samanta, S., Dash, R., Karpiński, T.M., Habibi, E., Sadiq, A., Ahmadi, A. & Bunagu, S. (2022b). The neuroprotective effects of fisetin, a natural flavonoid in neurodegenerative diseases: Focus on the role of oxidative stress. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2022.1015835
Publiziert
6.9.2024
Kategorie
Health
Scientific Terms
Polyphenol
Polyphenols are secondary plant substances and are found exclusively in plants. They are found in the outer layers of fruit, vegetables and grains.
Senolytics
Senolytics are agents which can induce apoptosis of aged (senescent) cells and thus potentially reduce signs of aging
Cellular Senescence
The process that occurs when normal cells stop dividing and start releasing inflammatory molecules, sometimes caused by telomere shortening, DNA damage, or epigenomic noise. Despite their apparent “zombie” state, senescent cells remain alive and damage neighboring cells with their inflammatory secretions.
In a world in which life expectancy is increasing and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's are increasing, the search for effective prevention and treatment options is becoming increasingly important. A promising starting point is fisetin, a flavonoid that is found in various types of fruit and vegetables and is considered a potential protective factor for cognitive health due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
What is Fisetin?
Fisetin is a naturally occurring flavonoid found in many foods such as strawberries, apples, onions, and grapes. Its neuroprotective properties and ability to cross the blood-brain barrier make it a promising candidate for promoting cognitive health. In addition, fisetin is thought to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which may also help support cognitive function and reduce the risk of neurological diseases.
Why is Fisetin important?
Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's lead to loss of brain cells and cognitive functions. Oxidative stress and inflammatory processes play an important role in this. Fisetin could counteract these processes and thus protect cognitive health.
Possible benefits of fisetin:
· Improving cognitive functions
Studies show that fisetin can improve memory and learning by promoting the formation of new brain cells while reducing inflammatory processes in the brain.
· Protection against neurodegenerative diseases
In vitro studies suggest that fisetin may reduce the formation of amyloid plaques and tau proteins, which have been linked to the development of Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases.
· Improved blood flow to the brain
Fisetin could improve blood flow to the brain, which could have a positive effect on cognitive function.
· Reduction of oxidative stress
Through its antioxidant properties, fisetin can reduce oxidative stress in the brain, which can cause damage to brain cells and impair cognitive function.
What does the science tell us?
Animal studies have investigated the effects of fisetin on memory and brain function in mice with Alzheimer's-like symptoms. The promising results of these studies suggest that fisetin may improve memory performance by reducing neuroinflammation and inhibiting the formation of amyloid plaques in the brain, which has been linked to Alzheimer's disease.
Human studies
Initial human studies with fisetin are promising, but further research is needed to confirm the effectiveness and safety of fisetin in treating neurodegenerative disorders in humans.
What does the expert say?
DDr. Dietmar Rösler, a renowned expert in the field of neuroprotection and director of the institute INUMED in Austria, has provided some important insights into the potential and challenges of fisetin for cognitive health and longevity.
The positive effects of fisetin on health in old age
According to Dr. Rösler, eating foods or supplements that are rich in fisetin could well have positive effects on a range of age-related health problems.
The expected benefits would be that all oxidation-related wear and tear processes in our cells could take place more slowly because we become less “rancid” internally, so to speak. Polyphenols such as fisetin are nothing more than cellular lightning rods. In concrete terms, this means less cell aging and DNA damage, better function of the immune system, but also more energy through better protection of mitochondrial cell power plants. This would alleviate the course of most chronic diseases that we can understand at the cellular level today. And the big advantage of this is that with the appropriate dosage, no side effects are to be expected.
Fisetin compared to other antioxidants
Since there have been no human studies on fisetin so far, but only promising results from animal experiments, Dr. Rösler warns against jumping on the “hype bandwagon.” However, he notes that fisetin appears to be one of the most effective senolytics and joins a group of already known and proven antioxidants such as resveratrol, quercetin and curcumin. He has been using these nutrients to treat chronically ill patients for years.
Challenges when using fisetin
A major problem currently hampering the therapeutic use of fisetin is the classification as a “novel food” by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). This means: “Even if a nutrient could be proven to cure diseases such as cancer or Alzheimer's disease, it should not be brought onto the market as a result of this regulation,” says the expert.
Future and hope
Despite regulatory challenges, Dr. Rösler remains optimistic about the future significance of research findings for the prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. He sees promising approaches primarily in the area of neuroprotection, particularly in Alzheimer's disease.
Experte
Referenzen
- Ravula, A.R., Teegala, S.B., Kalakotla, S., Pasangulapati, J.P., Perumal, V. & Boyina, H.K. (2021). Fisetin, potential flavonoid with multifarious targets for treating neurological disorders: An updated review. European Journal of Pharmacology, 910, 174492. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejphar.2021.174492
- Bakhtiari, M., Panahi, Y., Ameli, J. & Darvishi, B. (2017). Protective effects of flavonoids against Alzheimer's disease-related neural dysfunctions. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, 93, 218—229. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2017.06.010
- Hassan, S.S.U., Samanta, S., Dash, R., Karpiński, T.M., Habibi, E., Sadiq, A., Ahmadi, A. & Bunagu, S. (2022b). The neuroprotective effects of fisetin, a natural flavonoid in neurodegenerative diseases: Focus on the role of oxidative stress. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2022.1015835
Publiziert
6.9.2024
Kategorie
Health
Wissenschaftliche Begriffe
Polyphenol
Polyphenols are secondary plant substances and are found exclusively in plants. They are found in the outer layers of fruit, vegetables and grains.
Senolytics
Senolytics are agents which can induce apoptosis of aged (senescent) cells and thus potentially reduce signs of aging
Cellular Senescence
The process that occurs when normal cells stop dividing and start releasing inflammatory molecules, sometimes caused by telomere shortening, DNA damage, or epigenomic noise. Despite their apparent “zombie” state, senescent cells remain alive and damage neighboring cells with their inflammatory secretions.
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