MEDITERRANEAN DIET AS PREVENTION STRATEGY OF AGE-RELATED DISEASE

Abstract

Several evidence indicates a strong correlation between healthy lifestyle and age-related pathology,in particular neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD). This pathology ischaracterized by two histo-pathological hallmarks, the amyloid plaques, formed by Ab oligomers, andneurofibrillary tangles, due to hyperphosphorylation of tau protein. At molecular level, Ab inducesmitochondrial and endoplasmatic reticulum dysfunctions, oxidative stress and apoptosis. The brain issusceptible to oxidative stress and several prevention strategy based on use of antioxidant moleculeshave been proposed. Traditional Mediterranean Diet (MD) includes high consumption of vegetables,fruits and herbs, food rich in antioxidant molecules, such as polyphenols. Some studies indicatethat MD influences longevity as confirmed by studies on centenarian subjects. In vitro studied havedemonstrated that Caffeic Acid (CA), one of the main polyphenol present in several foods that makeup the MD, has high anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.