Beyond the Surface

Polyphenols have been extensively acknowledged for their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Nonetheless, the recent evidence is suggestive of a broader role of polyphenols as cellular programming agents, with the ability to influence fundamental biological pathways and core cellular processes. These processes include epigenetic alterations, such as DNA methylation and histone acetylation, synaptic plasticity, mitochondrial biogenesis, metabolic pathways, and cellular senescence. Polyphenols enhance neuronal survival, promote neurogenesis, and support cognitive resilience by targeting transcription factors and signaling cascades. Their cellular reprogramming potential marks a paradigm shift, from merely offering symptomatic relief to modification of the underlying disease process. This emerging perspective positions polyphenols not only as neuroprotective agents but also as promising tools in advancing precision medicine approaches for neurodegenerative disorders.