Clinical Nutrition & Dietetics

Nutritional Neuroscience & Mental Health

Nutritional neuroscience explores how nutrients influence brain function, mood, cognition, and mental health outcomes. Emerging research highlights the relationships between diet, neurotransmitter synthesis, inflammation, oxidative stress, and the gut–brain axis. Clinical nutrition strategies support patients with anxiety, depression, cognitive decline, ADHD, and neurodegenerative disorders by incorporating targeted nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins, polyphenols, and amino acids essential for neurotransmission. Dietary interventions reduce neuroinflammation, promote neuroplasticity, and enhance metabolic processes that sustain brain performance. Personalized plans consider gut microbiome diversity, metabolic health, food sensitivities, and lifestyle factors affecting mental wellbeing. Nutritional neuroscience also emphasizes the impact of ultraprocessed foods, sugar, and nutrient deficiencies on emotional regulation and cognitive clarity. As evidence grows, nutrition is increasingly recognized as a key component of mental healthcare, complementing psychological and medical interventions to support holistic brain health.