This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Open AccessArticle
Exploring the Impact of Bioactive Compounds Found in Extra Virgin Olive Oil on NRF2 Modulation in Alzheimer’s Disease
by
Marilena M. Bourdakou
Marilena M. Bourdakou ,
Eleni M. Loizidou
Eleni M. Loizidou
and
George M. Spyrou
George M. Spyrou *
Bioinformatics Department, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, Nicosia 2371, Cyprus
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Antioxidants 2025, 14(8), 952; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox14080952 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 7 July 2025
/
Revised: 29 July 2025
/
Accepted: 30 July 2025
/
Published: 2 August 2025
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder marked by amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques, neurofibrillary tangles, blood–brain barrier dysfunction, oxidative stress (OS), and neuroinflammation. Current treatments provide symptomatic relief, but do not halt the disease’s progression. OS plays a crucial role in AD pathogenesis by promoting Aβ accumulation. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) is a key regulator of the antioxidant response, influencing genes involved in OS mitigation, mitochondrial function, and inflammation. Dysregulation of NRF2 is implicated in AD, making it a promising therapeutic target. Emerging evidence suggests that adherence to a Mediterranean diet (MD), which is particularly rich in polyphenols from extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), is associated with improved cognitive function and a reduced risk of mild cognitive impairment. Polyphenols can activate NRF2, enhancing endogenous antioxidant defenses. This study employs a computational approach to explore the potential of bioactive compounds in EVOO to modulate NRF2-related pathways in AD. We analyzed transcriptomic data from AD and EVOO-treated samples to identify NRF2-associated genes, and used chemical structure-based analysis to compare EVOO’s bioactive compounds with known NRF2 activators. Enrichment analysis was performed to identify common biological functions between NRF2-, EVOO-, and AD-related pathways. Our findings highlight important factors and biological functions that provide new insight into the molecular mechanisms through which EVOO consumption might influence cellular pathways associated with AD via modulation of the NRF2 pathway. The presented approach provides a different perspective in the discovery of compounds that may contribute to neuroprotective mechanisms in the context of AD.
Share and Cite
MDPI and ACS Style
Bourdakou, M.M.; Loizidou, E.M.; Spyrou, G.M.
Exploring the Impact of Bioactive Compounds Found in Extra Virgin Olive Oil on NRF2 Modulation in Alzheimer’s Disease. Antioxidants 2025, 14, 952.
https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox14080952
AMA Style
Bourdakou MM, Loizidou EM, Spyrou GM.
Exploring the Impact of Bioactive Compounds Found in Extra Virgin Olive Oil on NRF2 Modulation in Alzheimer’s Disease. Antioxidants. 2025; 14(8):952.
https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox14080952
Chicago/Turabian Style
Bourdakou, Marilena M., Eleni M. Loizidou, and George M. Spyrou.
2025. "Exploring the Impact of Bioactive Compounds Found in Extra Virgin Olive Oil on NRF2 Modulation in Alzheimer’s Disease" Antioxidants 14, no. 8: 952.
https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox14080952
APA Style
Bourdakou, M. M., Loizidou, E. M., & Spyrou, G. M.
(2025). Exploring the Impact of Bioactive Compounds Found in Extra Virgin Olive Oil on NRF2 Modulation in Alzheimer’s Disease. Antioxidants, 14(8), 952.
https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox14080952
Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details
here.
Article Metrics
Article Access Statistics
For more information on the journal statistics, click
here.
Multiple requests from the same IP address are counted as one view.