Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's diseases (PD) are the two most common progressive neurodegenerative diseases with limited knowledge on their cause and, presently, have no cure. There is an existence of multiple treatment methods that target only the symptoms temporarily and do not stop the progression or prevent the onset of disease. Neurodegeneration is primarily attributed to the natural process of aging and the deleterious effects of heightened oxidative stress within the brain, whether via direct or indirect mechanisms. Emerging evidence suggests that certain nutritional aspects play a crucial role in the prevention and management of neurodegenerative diseases. Lutein, a dietary carotenoid, has been studied for its antioxidant properties for more than a decade with several applications against age‐related macular degeneration. It is high antioxidant potential and selective accumulation in the brain makes it a versatile compound for combatting various neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, the studies exhibiting neuroprotective properties of lutein against neurodegenerative conditions, more specifically AD and PD in various model systems as well as clinical observations have been reviewed. Accordingly, the concerns associated with lutein absorption and potential strategies to improve its bioavailability have been discussed.

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叶黄素及其对神经退行性疾病的潜在神经保护作用

阿尔茨海默病（AD）和帕金森病（PD）是两种最常见的进行性神经退行性疾病，对其病因的了解有限，目前尚无治愈方法。存在多种治疗方法，它们仅暂时针对症状，而不能阻止疾病的进展或预防疾病的发作。神经变性主要归因于衰老的自然过程以及大脑内氧化应激加剧的有害影响，无论是通过直接还是间接机制。新的证据表明，某些营养方面在神经退行性疾病的预防和管理中发挥着至关重要的作用。叶黄素是一种膳食类胡萝卜素，十多年来对其抗氧化特性进行了研究，并在对抗年龄相关性黄斑变性方面有多种应用。它具有高抗氧化潜力，并且在大脑中选择性积累，使其成为对抗各种神经退行性疾病的多功能化合物。在这篇综述中，综述了叶黄素对神经退行性疾病（更具体地说是 AD 和 PD）在各种模型系统中的神经保护特性以及临床观察结果。因此，我们讨论了与叶黄素吸收相关的问题以及提高其生物利用度的潜在策略。