Perspectives on Neuronutrition in Prevention and Treatment of Neurological Disorders

Abstract

The term neuronutrition has been proposed as part of nutritional neuroscience, studying the effects of various dietary components on behavior and cognition. Other researchers underline that neuronutrition includes the use of various nutrients and diets to prevent and treat neurological disorders. The aim of this narrative review was to explore the current understanding of the term neuronutrition as the key concept for brain health, its potential molecular targets, and perspectives of its nutritional approach to the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, multiple sclerosis, anxiety, depressive disorders, migraine, and chronic pain. Neuronutrition can be defined as a part of neuroscience that studies the influence of various aspects of nutrition (nutrients, diet, eating behavior, food environment, etc.) on the development of nervous disorders and includes nutrition, clinical dietetics, and neurology. There is evidence that the neuronutritional approach can influence neuroepigenetic modifications, immunological regulation, metabolic control, and behavioral patterns. The main molecular targets in neuronutrition include neuroinflammation, oxidative/nitrosative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction, gut-brain axis disturbance, and neurotransmitter imbalance. To effectively apply neuronutrition for maintaining brain health, a personalized approach is needed, which includes the adaptation of the scientific findings to the genetic, biochemical, psycho-physiological, and environmental features of each individual.

Keywords: brain health; neurological disorders; neuronutrients; neuronutrition.

Figure 1

Neuronutrition definition. Neuronutrition includes a subset of nutritional neuroscience (approach to improving eating behavior [26], mental health [27], and cognitive functions [28] in healthy and sick individuals), nutrition (approach to detect nutritional status and dietary patterns in patients with neurological disorders [29]), and neurology (approach to prevent and treat neurological disorders with nutritional interventions) [30]).

Figure 2

Neuronutritional interventions can be implemented through the correction of dietary culture, dietary patterns, and nutrient intake to optimize neurological health and prevent/treat neurological disorders.

Figure 3

Molecular targets of neuronutrition. The main molecular targets in neuronutrition are neuroinflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative/nitrosative stress, gut–brain axis disturbance, and neurotransmitters imbalance [75,76].