Nootropic foods in neurodegenerative diseases: mechanisms, challenges, and future

Abstract Neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease are increasing globally and represent a significant cause of age-related death in the population. Recent studies emphasize the strong association between environmental stressors, particularly dietary factors, and...

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Main Authors: Le Anh Minh Nguyen, Courtney Wayne Simons, Raymond Thomas
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-04-01
Series:Translational Neurodegeneration
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40035-025-00476-7
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author Le Anh Minh Nguyen
Courtney Wayne Simons
Raymond Thomas
author_facet Le Anh Minh Nguyen
Courtney Wayne Simons
Raymond Thomas
author_sort Le Anh Minh Nguyen
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease are increasing globally and represent a significant cause of age-related death in the population. Recent studies emphasize the strong association between environmental stressors, particularly dietary factors, and brain health and neurodegeneration unsatisfactory outcomes. Despite ongoing efforts, the efficiency of current treatments for NDDs remains wanting. Considering this, nootropic foods with neuroprotective effects are of high interest as part of a possible long-term therapeutic strategy to improve brain health and alleviate NDDs. However, since it is a new and emerging area in food and neuroscience, there is limited information on mechanisms and challenges to consider for this to be a successful intervention. Here, we seek to address these gaps by presenting a comprehensive review of possible pathways or mechanisms including mutual interactions governing nootropic food metabolism, linkages of the pathways with NDDs, intake, and neuroprotective properties of nootropic foods. We also discuss in-depth intervention with nootropic compounds and dietary patterns in NDDs, providing a detailed exploration of their mechanisms of action. Additionally, we analyze the demand, challenges, and future directions for successful development of nootropic foods targeting NDDs.
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publishDate 2025-04-01
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series Translational Neurodegeneration
spelling doaj-art-32651251c4bc455e8a68f9c6c3b3fe982025-08-20T03:07:44ZengBMCTranslational Neurodegeneration2047-91582025-04-0114112510.1186/s40035-025-00476-7Nootropic foods in neurodegenerative diseases: mechanisms, challenges, and futureLe Anh Minh Nguyen0Courtney Wayne Simons1Raymond Thomas2Biology Department, Biotron Experimental Climate Change Research Centre, Western UniversityWright State University-Lake CampusBiology Department, Biotron Experimental Climate Change Research Centre, Western UniversityAbstract Neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease are increasing globally and represent a significant cause of age-related death in the population. Recent studies emphasize the strong association between environmental stressors, particularly dietary factors, and brain health and neurodegeneration unsatisfactory outcomes. Despite ongoing efforts, the efficiency of current treatments for NDDs remains wanting. Considering this, nootropic foods with neuroprotective effects are of high interest as part of a possible long-term therapeutic strategy to improve brain health and alleviate NDDs. However, since it is a new and emerging area in food and neuroscience, there is limited information on mechanisms and challenges to consider for this to be a successful intervention. Here, we seek to address these gaps by presenting a comprehensive review of possible pathways or mechanisms including mutual interactions governing nootropic food metabolism, linkages of the pathways with NDDs, intake, and neuroprotective properties of nootropic foods. We also discuss in-depth intervention with nootropic compounds and dietary patterns in NDDs, providing a detailed exploration of their mechanisms of action. Additionally, we analyze the demand, challenges, and future directions for successful development of nootropic foods targeting NDDs.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40035-025-00476-7Neurodegenerative diseasesEnvironmental stressorsNeuroprotective foodsNootropic foodsDiets
spellingShingle Le Anh Minh Nguyen
Courtney Wayne Simons
Raymond Thomas
Nootropic foods in neurodegenerative diseases: mechanisms, challenges, and future
Translational Neurodegeneration
Neurodegenerative diseases
Environmental stressors
Neuroprotective foods
Nootropic foods
Diets
title Nootropic foods in neurodegenerative diseases: mechanisms, challenges, and future
title_full Nootropic foods in neurodegenerative diseases: mechanisms, challenges, and future
title_fullStr Nootropic foods in neurodegenerative diseases: mechanisms, challenges, and future
title_full_unstemmed Nootropic foods in neurodegenerative diseases: mechanisms, challenges, and future
title_short Nootropic foods in neurodegenerative diseases: mechanisms, challenges, and future
title_sort nootropic foods in neurodegenerative diseases mechanisms challenges and future
topic Neurodegenerative diseases
Environmental stressors
Neuroprotective foods
Nootropic foods
Diets
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40035-025-00476-7
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AT courtneywaynesimons nootropicfoodsinneurodegenerativediseasesmechanismschallengesandfuture
AT raymondthomas nootropicfoodsinneurodegenerativediseasesmechanismschallengesandfuture