Current Therapy And Protective Potential Of Medicinal Mushroom Cordyceps Militaris Against Alzheimer’s Disease

Abstract

Alzheimer disease is a neurodegenerative disorder which mainly affects older people and effects of quality of life. In this condition, brain cells get degenerated leading to dementia characterized by memory and learning impairment with significant decline in thinking process.  It is estimated that around 107 million people will be affected with this disease by the year 2050 worldwide. The current treatment options for this disease are able to provide modest symptomatic relief and most of the drugs act by reducing symptoms by counter balancing neurotransmitter disturbance. The medicinal mushrooms are known to have a number of beneficial effects and are used as a part of traditional medicine system for many years. Medicinal mushroom Cordyceps militaris contains a number of bioactive compounds which has tremendous health effects. Cordycepin is the major component of these mushrooms which is well known for its anticancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and neuroprotective effects. This compound helps in the improvement of antioxidant enzymes level and demonstrated anti neuroinflammatory effects in various studies.  Due to the protective role of Cordyceps militaris, this mushroom could help in the development of novel treatment strategies against Alzheimer disease. These review insights the pathogenesis mechanisms, current therapy and protective role of Cordyceps militaris against Alzheimer disease.