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The double role of nutrients in Parkinsons disease

Gaia Rocchitta

Among neurodegenerative disease Parkinson's disease (PD) represents the second most widespread. Observational studies have linked the occurrence of PD to environmental exposures and lifestyle habits, signifying a huge field of research in order to improve PD prevention or disease modification in populations but also in individuals. Up to now, gene–environment interactions and other factors as chemical exposure, physical activity, dietary habits or smoking have been deepened. From observational studies several low-risk and potentially high-yield recommendations for lifestyle modification have been formulated, in particular, dietary modifications. So, the role nutrition in both neuroprotection and neurodegeneration has become important for neuroscientists and nutritional neuroscientists. Several studies have emphasized that some nutrients may increase an individual risk for PD, while others may be neuroprotective. Such evidences are not unexpected, as some foods are able to impact on the functions of mitochondria, and therefore on the production of free radicals, while others perform very important antioxidant functions, necessary to block the harmful behavior of free radicals.