The memory- and cognition-facilitating effects of spermidine in aging and aging-related disorders

Spermidine is a natural polyamine found in living organisms. In human, the level of spermidine declines with aging. Emerging lines of evidence indicates that supplementation of spermidine favors the improvement of memory performance and cognition function. In this article, recent findings regarding the metabolism of spermidine under pathophysiological conditions are discussed. This review emphasizes the recent mechanistic insights into the memory- and cognition-facilitating effects of spermidine, specifically detailing autophagy induction, mitochondrial protection, synaptic maintenance and other aspects. Recent advances in understanding the precise role of spermidine may shed light on the prevention and treatment of aging-associated memory and cognitive decline.