Oxidative stress and cognitive impairment in the elderly.

Cognitive impairment is a major component of age-related dementing diseases and it has been suggested that it could share the same pathological pathways with neurodegenerative processes and cerebrovascular lesions. The free radical theory of aging could be one of these pathways. Observational studies of relationships between cognitive impairment and antioxidant status are based on the evaluation of dietary intake or on the levels of carotenoids, selenium and vitamins A, C and E in plasma. More convincing results were obtained on vitamin C and carotenoids. Despite some limitations, the comparison between results obtained in various populations is becoming increasingly informative and these studies argue for a protective effect of antioxidants on cognitive performance.