Honey as a Neuroprotective Agent: Molecular Perspectives on Its Role in Alzheimer’s Disease Navarro Hortal, María Dolores Romero Márquez, José M. Ansary, Johura Hinojosa Nogueira, Daniel José Montalbán-Hernández, Cristina Varela López, Alfonso Quiles Morales, José Luis manuka tualang antioxidants Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most prevalent form of dementia and a major global health challenge, characterized by progressive cognitive decline and neurodegeneration. Despite decades of research, there is currently no cure, and available treatments provide only limited symptomatic relief without halting disease progression. In this context, natural compounds with multi-targeted biological activities are being explored as potential complementary therapeutic strategies. Honey, a complex natural substance rich in bioactive phytochemicals, has emerged as a promising candidate due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and enzyme-inhibitory properties. This review summarizes the molecular mechanisms underlying the neuroprotective effects of honey in the context of AD, with a particular focus on its ability to modulate oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation, apoptosis, β-amyloid accumulation, tau hyperphosphorylation, and neurotransmission-related enzymes. Notably, the botanical origin of honey significantly influences its composition and biological activity, as evidenced by studies on avocado, manuka, acacia, kelulut, chestnut, coffee, or tualang honeys. While preclinical findings are encouraging, especially in vitro and in invertebrate and rodent models, clinical validation is still lacking. Therefore, further research, including well-designed in vivo and human studies, is needed to clarify the therapeutic relevance of honey in AD. Overall, honey may represent a promising natural adjunct in the prevention or management of AD, but current evidence remains preliminary. 2025-09-19T08:12:37Z 2025-09-19T08:12:37Z 2025-08-08 journal article Navarro-Hortal, M.D.; Romero-Márquez, J.M.; Ansary, J.; Hinojosa-Nogueira, D.; Montalbán-Hernández, C.; VarelaLópez, A.; Quiles, J.L. Honey as a Neuroprotective Agent: Molecular Perspectives on Its Role in Alzheimer’s Disease. Nutrients 2025, 17, 2577. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17162577 https://hdl.handle.net/10481/106463 10.3390/nu17162577 eng http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ open access Atribución 4.0 Internacional MDPI