Nutrition for the Mind: Cognitive Enhancement in Sports and Exercise
A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Sports Nutrition".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 June 2026
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The Special Issue explores the growing recognition that optimal athletic performance depends not only on physical conditioning but also on cognitive functioning. In recent years, research has increasingly shown that nutrition plays a crucial role in supporting key mental processes such as attention, memory, decision-making, reaction time, and psychological resilience—abilities that are fundamental in both competitive sport and everyday physical activity. We therefore invite contributions that examine how specific nutrients, dietary patterns, supplements, or nutritional strategies can enhance cognitive performance before, during, or after exercise.
Topics of interest include the effects of macronutrients and micronutrients on brain function, the role of hydration and electrolyte balance in maintaining cognitive clarity, and the potential of ergogenic aids such as caffeine, creatine, omega-3 fatty acids, probiotics, and polyphenols to boost mental performance. We also welcome studies addressing the interaction between nutrition, neuroplasticity, mood regulation, sleep, and stress management, as well as how nutritional interventions may mitigate cognitive fatigue during prolonged training or competition.
By integrating perspectives from sports science, nutrition, neuroscience, and psychology, the aim of this Special Issue is to advance evidence-based strategies that support athletes’ cognitive health and optimize performance across diverse sporting contexts.
Dr. Carmen Mannucci
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Nutrients is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- cognitive performance
- sports nutrition
- exercise-induced fatigue
- ergogenic supplements
- brain health
- nutritional strategies
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