Dietotherapy in Neurodegenerative Diseases

Percentage of people suffering from Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases among the ageing society is constantly growing. Neurodegenerative diseases cause permanent damage to the nervous system. Prophylaxis and treatment of Alzheimer Disease and Parkinson Disease is based mainly on pharmacology, which improves everyday life of the patient. Up to date, there is no medicine which would directly heal the patient. Recently, however, dietotherapy, i.e., treatment by adequate nutrition, has been gaining attention. The mechanism of treating patients through diet has not been sufficiently analyzed yet, but its effects on prevention and prophylaxis of neurodegenerative diseases has been examined. Pharmacological treatment in combination with dietary treatment is for now the most effective method of fighting Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. The aim of this study is to present a few diets and benefits from following them in prophylaxis of several chosen neurodegenerative diseases. A diet should supply all the necessary nutrients according to the daily requirements of the patient. It should help sustain an adequate body mass and nourish the patient not only quantitatively, but also qualitatively. The way in which the patient eats should support medical treatment and eliminate any burdensome symptoms. One of the healthiest and the most effective diets is the Mediterranean diet which is based on increased intake of vegetables and fruit, fish, and whole-grain products. Long-term following of this diet can positively affect the quality of life and longevity. Another model of nutrition is the DASH diet, and it is very similar to the Mediterranean diet. It divides products into recommended and not recommended and, apart from fruit and vegetables, it promotes an increased intake of whole-grain products. In 2015, a hybrid of the two aforementioned diets was developed, called the MIND diet,. It is believed to be more effective than the first two for AD and PD. It concentrates on providing large amounts of antioxidants from soft fruits and vegetables and suggests eating at least 5 servings of nuts per week. Apart from these diets in prophylaxis of AD and PD, the study discusses health-promoting benefits from some nutritional factors, e.g., antioxidants, group B vitamins, homocysteine, or caffeine.