Polyphenols And Cognitive Pathophysiology: Potential Relationships To Health And Lifestyle?

This short review reacts to publications pointing to several suggested lifestyle modifications activating nitric oxide synthases. As a result the positive changes in cardiovascular system and brain circulation with subsequent cognitive impairment were described. Among such modifications the nutritional habits and physical activities are recommended during early pathophysiological/reversible stages primarily. Nowadays, quite a lot of nutritional supplements, even as the bonuses for several specialized programs of physical activities are at disposal. Among them, the polyphenols may be mentioned as frequently discussed in basic scientific as well as prospective clinical studies. They are commended as regulatory promoters of interrelations among oxidative stress, lifestyle, nutrition and cognition. We would like to remark that even the utilization of physical activities and nutrition may trigger the central regulatory brain mechanisms earlier than the peripheral, especially, blood flow ones. Moreover, they can have the positive effect upon the aging of human cognitive functions as well. The use of the standard human psychophysiological methods can reveal valid indicators of such effects. As an example the electrophysiological markers of sensorimotor integration are illustrated. This integration serves the interindividual communication as well as between men and his/her environment. Changes in visual-oculomotor integration reflecting the impact on the intentionally and reflexively triggered central regulations and also the increase of the overall brain cortex activity will be mentioned even after single use of polyphenols. Such an approach may offer more informative correlates of changed individual lifestyle as well as to follow the long-term impact on the healthy physical and cognitive aging.