Prof. Dr. Suzana Shahar

Prof. Dr. Suzana Shahar is the Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). A Professor of Nutrition and Dietetics with a PhD from the University of Sheffield, she founded the Centre of Healthy Aging and Wellness (H-CARE) and leads key national research on geriatric health, dementia prevention, and cognitive frailty.

Neuroprotective Model for Healthy Aging: The Value of Nutraceutical and Lifestyle Modification

Aging is a physiologic state in which a progressive decline of organ functions is accompanied with the development of age-related diseases including cognitive decline leading to dementia. Key factors in aging included cellular senescence, molecular damage and physiological changes. The oxidative stress theory of aging is based on the hypothesis that age-associated functional losses, such as cognitive decline are due to the accumulation of RONS-induced damages. Antioxidant therapy could positively affect the natural history of several diseases, but further investigation is needed to evaluate the real efficacy of these therapeutic interventions. The role of functional foods was considered as a potential treatment of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease through inhibition of acetylcholinesterase as well as similar treatments based on herbs, spices and antioxidants rich foods. Tropical rich fruits and traditional herbs and vegetables are rich sources of antioxidants and polyphenols; have shown to beneficial in improving oxidative stress and cognitive function among aging populations. Prudent dietary patterns with inclusion on these functional foods, together with lifestyle modifications, have the potential in advancing neuroprotective model for older adults for healthy longevity. Their effects, however, are not attributable only to antioxidant properties. They are also rich sources of dietary fibres that has a role in short chain fatty acids metabolism in the gut brain axis pathways. Larger and longer duration of clinical trials are needed to provide stronger evidence of food and lifestyle-based model for neuroprotection towards healthy longevity. Among the lifestyle-based model, multidomain intervention has been proposed for dementia risk reduction. In Malaysia, this model, ie. WE RISE, AGELESS Trial and WE CARE have been successfully conducted and showed positive findings among older adults at risk of dementia. In conclusion, although larger clinical trials are needed, the present scientific evidence could be tabulated as neuroprotective model for healthy aging.