Development of dietary bioactive compounds for the therapy of neurodegenerative disorders

DEVELOPMENT OF DIETARY BIOACTIVE COMPOUNDS FOR THE THERAPY OF NEURODEGENERATIVE DISORDERS Modified lipid metabolism is a condition common to a variety of chronic diseases, although the etiopathogenesis can be very different. Adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD) is an inherited neurodegenerative disorder due to a mutation of the ABCD1 gene encoding for the peroxisomal protein ALDP. The result is impaired homeostasis of lipid metabolism. During the progression of neurodegenerative disorders, other secondary alterations can develop such as oxidative stress, inflammatory cascade, peroxisomal impairment. Therapeutic control of these secondary events is as essential as treatment of the primary symptomatology. A multidisciplinary approach is usually necessary for the treatment of these severe disorders. A crucial factor in the therapy of neurodegenerative conditions is the passage of drugs through the blood-brain barrier. The aim of our research was to develop a therapeutic strategy utilizing dietary bioactive compounds. We demonstrated in a clinical trial that specific compounds administered to X-ALD patients can pass through the blood-brain barrier, since they were detected in the cerebrospinal fluid of treated patients. We also investigated the molecular mechanisms of specific bioactive compounds to develop a dietary strategy aimed at controlling the progression of neurodegenerative disorders. References [1] M. Cappa, C. Bizzarri, A. Petroni, G. Carta et al., J Inherit Metab Dis, 2012,35:899-907.