New Insights into the Relationship between Nutrition and Neuroinflam-mation in Alzheimer's Disease: Preventive and Therapeutic Perspectives

Neurodegenerative diseases are progressive brain disorders characterized by inexorable synaptic dysfunction and neuronal loss. Since the most consistent risk factor for developing neuro-degenerative diseases is aging, the prevalence of these disorders is intended to increase with increasing life expectancy. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of neurodegenerative dementia, repre-senting a significant medical, social, and economic burden worldwide. Despite growing research to reach an early diagnosis and optimal patient management, no disease-modifying therapies are current-ly available. Chronic neuroinflammation has been recognized as a crucial player in sustaining neuro-degenerative processes, along with pathological deposition of misfolded proteins, including amyloid-β and tau protein. Modulating neuroinflammatory responses may be a promising therapeutic strategy in future clinical trials. Among factors that are able to regulate neuroinflammatory mechanisms, diet, and nutrients represent easily accessible and modifiable lifestyle components. Mediterranean diet and sev-eral nutrients, including polyphenols, vitamins, and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, can exert an-tioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, impacting clinical manifestations, cognitive decline, and dementia. This review aims to provide an updated overview of the relationship between neuroinflam-mation, nutrition, gut microbiota, and neurodegeneration. We summarize the major studies exploring the effects of diet regimes on cognitive decline, primarily focusing on Alzheimer’s disease dementia and the impact of these results on the design of ongoing clinical trials.