Quercetin for Managing and Treating Dementia

Quercetin is derived from plants as a bioflavonoid and has been reported to be a potent neuroprotective agent in neurodegenerative diseases. Various studies on this phytochemical have reported many mechanisms by which quercetin exerts its neuroprotective effects, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticholinesterase, modulation of apoptotic/survival signaling pathways like phosphatase and tensin homolog, mitogen-activated protein kinase, mammalian target of rapamycin, and cAMP response element protein pathway. In addition, quercetin activates increased expression of sirtuin-1 across the brain cells, suppresses the aggregation of amyloid protein, tau expression, AMP-activated protein kinase activation, restoration of mitochondrial membrane potential, mitochondrial ATP generation, increased cell proliferation, and survival rate, and improvement in mitochondrial dysfunctions. Thus, this chapter is aimed at highlighting the significant role of quercetin in the management of dementia.