Trace Elements for Brain Health and Cognitive Ageing
A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Nutrition and Neuro Sciences".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 June 2026 | Viewed by 15
Special Issue Editors
Interests: trace elements; iodine; nutrition; cognition, ageing; dementia
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: trace element in health and disease; trace element analysis—development and validation of analytical procedures; food, environmental, pharmaceutical, forensic, and clinical/toxicological applications; atomic spectroscopy and elemental mass spectrometry
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Trace elements play a vital role in maintaining brain health and supporting healthy cognitive aging. Emerging evidence indicates that deficiencies or imbalances in micronutrients such as iodine, selenium, zinc, iron, and copper can influence neurodevelopment, neurotransmission, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation, thereby impacting cognitive function throughout the life course. Dysregulation of trace element homeostasis may further impair neurotransmission, potentially contributing to neurodegenerative processes.
As the risk of cognitive decline increases with age, there is a growing need to better understand the role of trace elements in supporting brain function and how adequate intake may benefit older adults. Although the influence of diet and lifestyle on brain health has received considerable attention, the specific contribution of trace elements remains underexplored and often overlooked in public health strategies.
This Special Issue aims to advance our understanding of the role trace elements play in brain function, cognitive resilience, and the onset or progression of neurodegenerative disorders. We welcome original research articles, systematic reviews, and perspectives that explore mechanisms, biomarkers, dietary sources, supplementation strategies, and population-level interventions, with the ultimate goal of informing evidence-based approaches to promote brain health and reduce the risk of cognitive decline.
Dr. Zheng Feei Ma
Prof. Dr. Agostinho Almeida
Guest Editors
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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
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
- trace elements
- brain health
- cognition
- ageing
- dementia
- nutrition
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
