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The Essential Role of Nutrient Intake in Neurological Diseases

A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Nutrition and Neuro Sciences".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 June 2026 | Viewed by 372

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, College of Psychology, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA
Interests: cognitive dysfunction; dementia; Alzheimer’s disease; vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID); cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA); diet; diabetes; metabolic disease; exercise; traumatic brain injury; drug repurposing; sex differences

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Neurological diseases, encompassing neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, cerebrovascular events, and psychiatric disorders, represent a critical and growing global health challenge. Emerging research continues to highlight the profound influence of nutritional status on the central nervous system, identifying diet as a key modifiable factor in both disease prevention and management. This Special Issue, “The Essential Role of Nutrient Intake in Neurological Diseases,” aims to elucidate the complex biological mechanisms linking nutrition to brain health. We invite researchers to submit original research and reviews that explore the therapeutic potential of dietary patterns (e.g., the Mediterranean, MIND, and ketogenic diets), as well as the specific roles of omega-3 fatty acids, micronutrients, bioactive compounds, and nutraceuticals. Contributions addressing the impact of the microbiota on neurological outcomes in conditions including epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, stroke, and traumatic brain injury are also encouraged to advance our understanding of how targeted nutritional strategies can support neurological resilience and recovery.

Dr. Lisa S. Robison
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • neurodegenerative diseases
  • Alzheimer’s disease
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • cerebrovascular disease
  • stroke
  • multiple sclerosis
  • epilepsy
  • traumatic brain injury
  • psychiatric disorders
  • neuroinflammation
  • ketogenic diet
  • Mediterranean/MIND diet
  • omega-3 fatty acids
  • macronutrients
  • micronutrients
  • neutraceuticals
  • gut–brain axis
  • microbiota

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

16 pages, 620 KB  
Article
Effects of a Mediterranean Diet-Based Program on Cognitive Decline: Non-Blinded Non-Randomized Controlled Trial of the CESPORT Program
by Juan Carlos Checa Olmos, Montserrat Monserrat Hernández, Ángeles Arjona Garrido, Jose Antonio Salinas and Manuel Díaz-Pérez
Nutrients 2026, 18(7), 1073; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18071073 - 27 Mar 2026
Viewed by 172
Abstract
Background: Age-related cognitive deccline is a significant health issue in Spain, especially among adults over 60 years of age. Addressing this involves establishing intervention guidelines and identifying early diagnostic biomarkers. Objective: To evaluate changes in urine of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor, concentration and [...] Read more.
Background: Age-related cognitive deccline is a significant health issue in Spain, especially among adults over 60 years of age. Addressing this involves establishing intervention guidelines and identifying early diagnostic biomarkers. Objective: To evaluate changes in urine of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor, concentration and cognitive performance after the implementation of the multicomponent CESPORT program (incorporating a Mediterranean Diet, nutritional education, and continuous support). Methods: This controlled trial included 76 older adults, divided into an experimental group (n = 58; mean age 66.9 years; 75.9% female) that participated in the CESPORT program, and a control group (n = 18; mean age 68.8 years; 72.2% female). Cognitive performance was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Cognifit® battery. Urinary BDNF concentrations were quantified via ELISA. Results: After adjusting for baseline scores via ANCOVA, the experimental group demonstrated significantly higher post-intervention outcomes compared to the control group (p < 0.001). Substantial improvements with medium-to-large effect sizes were observed in global cognition, reasoning, attention, coordination and perception. Furthermore, urinary BDNF levels were significantly elevated in the experimental group. Positive correlations were found between Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor concentrations and cognitive performance in multiple domains (p < 0.05), particularly regarding global status and reasoning. Conclusions: The multicomponent CESPORT intervention demonstrates a potential protective effect against age-related cognitive decline. Furthermore, urinary BDNF emerges as a promising, non-invasive early biomarker for cognitive health. Further research is warranted to validate these findings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Essential Role of Nutrient Intake in Neurological Diseases)
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