Nervous System Health: A Nutritional and Natural-Health Reference
1. Definition and Overview
The nervous system is divided into the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS). The CNS comprises the brain and spinal cord, whereas the PNS consists of all neural structures outside the CNS. The CNS receives, integrates, and responds to sensory information and generates motor output to coordinate behavior and maintain homeostasis. The brain is an organ of nervous tissue responsible for sensation, movement, emotional responses, communication, cognition, and memory.
The peripheral nervous system refers to the parts of the nervous system outside the brain and spinal cord. It includes the cranial nerves, spinal nerves and their roots and branches, peripheral nerves, and neuromuscular junctions. The PNS is divided into the somatic and autonomic systems. The somatic system includes sensory and motor pathways, whereas the autonomic system, which controls involuntary functions, has sympathetic and parasympathetic components that often have opposing effects on organs to maintain homeostasis.
The autonomic nervous system (ANS), a component of the peripheral nervous system, regulates involuntary physiologic processes, including heart rate, blood pressure, respiration, digestion, and sexual arousal. The autonomic nervous system is a very complex, multifaceted neural network that maintains internal physiologic homeostasis, including cardiovascular, thermoregulatory, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, and ophthalmologic (pupillary) systems.
Nervous tissue exhibits extreme fragility, rendering it susceptible to injury from relatively minor forces. Additional protection is conferred by the blood–brain barrier, which restricts the entry of potentially harmful substances circulating in the blood.
2. How Nervous System Health Presents: Function and Dysfunction
The concept of "nervous system health" in the nutritional context encompasses the maintenance of normal neurological and cognitive function throughout life — including adequate nerve transmission, neurotransmitter balance, myelin integrity, and protection from oxidative or inflammatory insult. Disruptions to these processes manifest across a wide spectrum.
The importance of B vitamins in the context of nerve function is highlighted by numerous neurological diseases — such as Wernicke's encephalopathy, depression, beriberi, seizures, subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord, or peripheral neuropathy — that are related to a deficiency in one or more of these neurotropic B vitamins.
Increasing evidence links modern diets (high in saturated fat, refined carbohydrates, and processed foods) with cognitive and memory deficits, increased incidence of mood disorders, and risk of neuroinflammation and neurodegenerative diseases.
Almost 10% of the population may acquire an autonomic disorder requiring medical attention. Because the ANS maintains internal physiologic homeostasis, disorders of this system can present with both central as well as peripheral nervous system localization. ANS dysfunction, often referred to as dysautonomia, can arise from primary or idiopathic and secondary causes.
3. Body Systems Involved
Nervous system health intersects with multiple organ systems. The gut-brain axis is a highly complex, bidirectional communication link between the gut and the central nervous system, mainly through neural, endocrine, immunological, and metabolic pathways. Signalling occurs between the gut microbiota and the brain through neural, endocrine, immune, and humoral pathways. A substantial body of evidence indicates that the microbiota–gut–brain axis plays a pivotal role in various neurological diseases.
Exercise has shown positive effects on brain health and cognitive function, which may reduce or delay the onset of severe neurological disorders. Exercise has been associated with various neurochemical changes, including alterations in cortisol levels, increased production of endorphins, endocannabinoids like anandamide, as well as higher levels of serotonin and dopamine. These changes have been linked to mood improvements, enhanced sleep quality, better motor control, and cognitive enhancements resulting from exercise-induced effects.
4. Contributing and Associated Factors
4.1 Nutritional Deficiencies
The nutrition of the entire body influences the production of neurotransmitters in the brain. A diet without an appropriate supply of protein, mineral nutrients, or vitamins may result in a failure to form appropriately balanced numbers of neurotransmitters, which, as a result, may lead to neurotransmission dysfunction.
Nutritional neuropathies represent a significant global issue, influenced by cultural, geopolitical, and socioeconomic factors. The neurotropic B vitamins — B1, B6, and B12 — are critical for neurodevelopment and the proper functioning of the nervous system. Nutritional deficiencies are less common in developed countries but remain significant in developing nations. In developed countries, factors like alcohol consumption, bariatric surgery, and metformin use are increasing these deficiencies in clinical practice.
4.2 Oxidative Stress and Neuroinflammation
The presence of antioxidants in the diet protects against oxidative damage to nervous system cells. Magnesium in cerebrospinal fluid plays a vital role in supporting various functions of the central nervous system. Decreased CSF magnesium levels correspond with reduced concentrations of extracellular brain magnesium and have been associated with epilepsy. Additionally, magnesium is well known for its implication in multiple neurological disorders.
4.3 Gut Microbiome Dysbiosis
Emerging evidence indicates that dysbiosis of the gut is related to a variety of neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseases such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Huntington's disease, autism spectrum disorders, depression, and glioblastoma. Mechanistic understandings show that gut microbes critically contribute to neuroimmune and blood–brain barrier signaling. The peripheral association of gut microflora, networked with inflammasome activation and nuclear factor kappa B pathways, highlights their role in CNS inflammation.
4.4 Dietary Pattern
Polyunsaturated fatty acids such as arachidonic acid (AA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), as structural components of the nervous system, play a key role in its function. Proper nutrition is based on vegetables, fruits, whole-grain cereal products supplemented with products providing full-value protein (dairy products, fish, lean meat) and high-quality fat products (vegetable oils, fish fats).
4.5 Elevated Homocysteine
Pyridoxine (B6), folate (B9), and cobalamin (B12) are indispensable coenzymes for the methylation of homocysteine to methionine, a process critical to nervous system function. Elevated homocysteine levels, resulting from deficiencies of these vitamins, are associated with higher risks of depression and dementia.
5. Nutrients Studied in Relation to Nervous System Health
5.1 B Vitamins (B1, B6, B12)
Overview
Neurotropic B vitamins play crucial roles as coenzymes and beyond in the nervous system. Particularly vitamin B1 (thiamine), B6 (pyridoxine), and B12 (cobalamin) contribute essentially to the maintenance of a healthy nervous system. Their importance is highlighted by many neurological diseases related to deficiencies in one or more of these vitamins, but they can improve certain neurological conditions even without a proven deficiency.
B complex vitamins, a group of eight water-soluble vitamins, play interconnected roles in maintaining nervous system health. Thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), and niacin (B3) are essential as co-enzymes in numerous metabolic reactions related to energy production. Thiamine is involved in the Krebs cycle, riboflavin in the electron transport chain, and niacin plays a key role in both glycolysis and the Krebs cycle. These metabolic processes are vital for sustaining the integrity of the nervous system, as the energy produced is critical for the functioning of nerve cells.
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)
Vitamin B1 is essential for energy metabolism in neurons and the proper functioning of neurotransmitters; a deficiency can result in neurological disorders such as beriberi and Wernicke's encephalopathy. Wernicke's encephalopathy and Korsakoff syndrome are among the most severe central nervous system manifestations of thiamine deficiency, explained by apoptotic cell death due to NMDA toxicity. Autopsy studies have shown a prevalence of 12.5% for Wernicke's encephalopathy among individuals with chronic alcohol use.
Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)
Vitamin B6 is vital for neurotransmitter synthesis, including serotonin, dopamine, and GABA, and is involved in amino acid metabolism and myelin production. Excess vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), rather than deficiency, appears to be associated with neuropathy. Vitamin B1 and B12 deficiencies are linked to classic neuropathies, while the connection between vitamin B6 deficiency and neuropathy is less clear, though excess B6 is associated with neurotoxicity.
Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin)
Vitamin B12 is crucial for DNA synthesis, fatty acid metabolism, and myelin production, with its deficiency leading to neuropathies and cognitive disorders. Because vitamin B12 is involved in so many essential pathways, its deficiency is a tremendous health problem. Neurological deficiency disorders include subacute combined sclerosis of the spinal cord, polyneuritis, neuropathy, myelopathy, optic nerve atrophy, and impaired cognitive function, mainly related to impaired neurotransmitter production, myelin lesions, or increased homocysteine and methylmalonic acid levels. SAM synthesis critically depends on vitamin B12 and has various important functions in the nervous system, including myelin as well as neurotransmitter synthesis.
The main causes of cobalamin deficiency are related to inadequate intake of animal products, autoimmune gastritis, pancreatic insufficiency, terminal ileum disease, and syndrome of intestinal bacterial overgrowth. The demands for vitamin B12 are particularly high in nervous tissue. Hypovitaminosis is accompanied by pathological lesions in both white and gray brain matter. Several types of neurological manifestations are described: subacute combined degeneration of spinal cord, sensomotor polyneuropathy, optic nerve neuropathy, and cognitive disorders.
Scientific Evidence
Several reports indicate that the specific supplementation with the combination of vitamins B1, B6, and B12 interacts synergistically to improve neuropathy, motor control, nociceptive, and neuropathic pain. A 2021 systematic review and meta-analysis published in PubMed (PMID 33619867) found that overall, interventional studies have suggested that B-vitamins could improve symptoms of peripheral neuropathy, though available trials have limitations and generally did not investigate vitamin status prior to treatment. Evidence for B-vitamin repletion in frank deficiency states (thiamine in Wernicke's; B12 in subacute combined degeneration) is well-established, but evidence for supplementation in non-deficient populations is more limited.
5.2 Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (EPA and DHA)
Overview and Structural Role
DHA has unique and indispensable roles in neuronal membranes with levels preserved by multiple mechanisms. DHA, the dominant omega-3 in the brain, impacts neurotransmitters and functions of the brain. There is mounting evidence supporting the beneficial effects of an increased intake of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in a variety of neurodegenerative and neurological conditions.
Scientific Evidence
Beneficial effects in mood disorders have more consistently been reported in clinical trials using EPA; whereas, with neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, the focus has been on DHA. DHA treatment appears to show the greatest promise compared to EPA and DPA, and the beneficial effects of DHA treatment currently appear to be to improve memory and learning in participants with MMSE scores above 26–27, particularly non-ApoE-ε4 carriers, although support from clinical trials is currently extremely limited.
Evidence from cross-sectional studies suggests that increased consumption of the bioactive omega-3 PUFAs DHA and EPA is associated with better cognitive functioning across the life span. A prospective trial of 1,880 participants found that a Mediterranean diet rich in fish, vegetables, and fruits, along with regular physical exercise, reduced the incidence of cognitive impairment. However, a moderate dose of omega-3 taken for a moderate period had no impact on neuropsychological function or brain morphology in some RCT analyses, underscoring the variable and dose/duration-dependent nature of the evidence.
5.3 Magnesium
From a neurological standpoint, magnesium plays an essential role in nerve transmission and neuromuscular conduction. It also functions in a protective role against excessive excitation that can lead to neuronal cell death (excitotoxicity), and has been implicated in multiple neurological disorders.
In the nervous system, magnesium is essential for maintaining neuronal ion homeostasis, modulating synaptic plasticity, and regulating neurotransmitter release. Magnesium has been found to interact with N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) signaling, prevent synapse loss, and reverse memory deficits in aged rats.
Scientific Evidence
There is strong data to suggest a role for magnesium in migraine and depression, and emerging data to suggest a protective effect of magnesium for chronic pain, anxiety, and stroke. More research is needed on magnesium as an adjunct treatment in epilepsy, and to further clarify its role in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Overall, the mechanistic attributes of magnesium in neurological diseases connote the macromineral as a potential target for neurological disease prevention and treatment. A 2024 systematic review and meta-analysis (ScienceDirect) assessed evidence from RCTs and cohort studies, noting that the evidence from randomized controlled trials and cohorts on magnesium and cognitive health among adults had not been systematically reviewed until recently, with researchers examining associations of various magnesium forms with cognitive outcomes across multiple study designs.
5.4 Vitamin D
Vitamin D and its metabolites have pleomorphic roles in both nervous system health and disease. Animal models have been paramount in contributing to our knowledge of the consequences of vitamin D deficiency on brain development and its implications for adult psychiatric and neurological diseases. In vitro, ex vivo, and animal model data provide compelling evidence that vitamin D has a crucial role in proliferation, differentiation, neurotrophism, neuroprotection, neurotransmission, and neuroplasticity.
Recent research has uncovered multiple roles for vitamin D in the central nervous system, impacting neural development and maturation, regulating the dopaminergic system, and controlling the synthesis of neural growth factors. Vitamin D exerts its biological function not only by influencing cellular processes directly, but also by influencing gene expression through vitamin D response elements.
Scientific Evidence: Strength and Limitations
The potential benefits of vitamin D supplementation in alleviating symptoms of neurological diseases are evaluated alongside controversial findings from previous intervention studies. The importance of interpreting these results cautiously is emphasized. Additional randomised and well-designed trials are considered essential for gaining a deeper understanding of the potential therapeutic advantages of vitamin D supplementation for neurological disorders. The current scientific consensus is that much of the evidence for vitamin D and neurological outcomes in humans remains at the epidemiological and preclinical level, with interventional evidence incomplete.
5.5 Amino Acids and Neurotransmitter Precursors
The potentially beneficial nutrients with a protective effect on nervous system function include amino acids (tryptophan, phenylalanine, tyrosine, taurine), glucose, vitamins C, E, D, and beta-carotene, B group vitamins, and minerals such as selenium. These amino acids serve as direct precursors to key neurotransmitters: tryptophan to serotonin, tyrosine and phenylalanine to dopamine and norepinephrine, and glutamate/glutamine to GABA. The evidence for supplementation of individual amino acids in neurologically healthy adults remains limited and largely preclinical.
6. Herbs and Natural Ingredients
6.1 Lion's Mane Mushroom (Hericium erinaceus)
Traditional Use
Mushrooms have been utilized in traditional medicine for centuries. Hericium erinaceus, also known as lion's mane mushroom, "Yamabushitake" in Japan, and "Houtou" in China, is a medicinal and edible mushroom belonging to the Basidiomycota phylum within the Hericiaceae family. Among all culinary mushrooms, Hericium erinaceus has been widely reported to have therapeutic activities related to the promotion of nerve and brain health. Its use in Traditional Chinese and Japanese medicine centered on digestive and neurological tonic applications.
Bioactive Compounds and Proposed Mechanisms
Preclinical studies have demonstrated that bioactive compounds in lion's mane, such as hericenones and erinacines, can promote nerve growth factor (NGF) synthesis and potentially support neuroplasticity. Nerve growth factor is essential for the maintenance of the basal forebrain cholinergic system. Hericenones and erinacines isolated from Hericium erinaceus can induce NGF synthesis in nerve cells. Hericenones are typically found in the fruiting bodies while erinacines are derived from the mycelia of the mushroom.
Scientific Evidence
Although it has been difficult to extrapolate the in vivo studies to clinical situations, preclinical studies have shown that there can be improvements in ischemic stroke, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and depression with H. erinaceus. Human clinical trial evidence is limited but growing. A double-blind, parallel groups pilot study tentatively suggests that Hericium erinaceus may improve speed of performance and reduce subjective stress in healthy, young adults. However, null and limited negative findings were also observed. Given the small sample size, these findings should be interpreted with caution, and further investigation in larger sample sizes is crucial.
Cognitive effects with lion's mane have been mixed based on small and short-duration clinical trials. Despite promising findings, clinical validation remains limited. Future research should prioritize large-scale clinical trials, the standardization of extraction methods, and the elucidation of pharmacokinetics to facilitate its integration into evidence-based medicine. Overall, the evidence in humans is preliminary and cannot yet be considered robust.
6.2 Ginkgo biloba
Traditional Use
Ginkgo biloba is one of the world's oldest tree species with a documented history of medicinal use in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Preparations of the leaf were historically used for circulatory and respiratory complaints, including memory and cognitive concerns. Modern interest has focused on standardized extracts (particularly EGb 761).
Proposed Mechanisms
Ginkgo biloba is thought to be beneficial to human health as a neuroprotective agent, antioxidant, free-radical scavenger, membrane stabilizer, and inhibitor of platelet-activating factor (through terpene ginkgolide B). Ginkgo biloba has demonstrated antioxidant and vasoactive properties as well as clinical benefits in several conditions such as ischemia, epilepsy, and peripheral nerve damage.
Scientific Evidence
The effect of Ginkgo biloba has been studied in a variety of neuropsychiatric conditions. However, the general lack of evidence prevents drawing conclusions regarding its effectiveness in many neuropsychiatric conditions, such as autism, ADHD, addiction, and GAD. Of all the psychiatric disorders reviewed, dementia has been the most extensively studied. A meta-analysis of eight studies in dementia showed that Ginkgo differed significantly from placebo, providing beneficial effects both in cognition and activities of daily living.
A 2026 network meta-analysis (29 RCTs, 2,107 participants) found that for healthy adults without cognitive impairment, Ginkgo at both low and high doses was significantly outperformed by Bacopa monnieri for working memory and short-term memory outcomes. Ginkgo has far more research than lion's mane, but volume does not equal consistent positive outcomes. The evidence for Ginkgo in dementia is mixed and largely low-certainty. For healthy adults seeking cognitive enhancement, the evidence base is weaker than Ginkgo's popularity suggests.
6.3 Bacopa monnieri (Brahmi)
Traditional Use
Bacopa monnieri, commonly known as Brahmi, is a traditional Ayurvedic herb with a long history of use in enhancing memory and intellect. In Ayurvedic tradition, it was classified as a "medhya rasayana" (brain rejuvenator) and prepared as a decoction, ghee-based preparation, or powder. Its traditional use spans South and Southeast Asia for centuries.
Bioactive Compounds and Proposed Mechanisms
Bacopa monnieri, an herb with active compounds such as bacosides A and B, betulinic acid, loliolide, asiatic acid, and quercetin, demonstrates potential for brain health. Its cognitive benefits are believed to arise from several mechanisms, including antioxidant activity, modulation of cholinergic systems, and neuroprotective effects through the regulation of β-amyloid aggregation and synaptic plasticity. BM has anti-apoptotic and antioxidant actions and can repair damaged neurons, stimulate kinase activity, restore synaptic function, improve nerve transmission, and increase neuroprotection.
Scientific Evidence
Twenty-two clinical trials reviewed in a 2024 systematic review demonstrated that Bacopa monnieri can reduce Nuclear Factor-κB phosphorylation, improve emotional function, cognitive functions, memory retention, and various psychiatric parameters. High-dose Brahmi (≥600 mg/day) significantly improved working and short-term memory compared to Ginkgo and placebo, while low-dose Brahmi also benefited delayed memory. However, Brahmi and Ginkgo did not differ in their effects on attention or processing speed.
The Bacopa monnieri group in some trials reported incidents of gastrointestinal side effects. Several clinical trials show significant and consistent improvements in various domains of cognitive functioning from 3 to 12 months across samples of healthy adults with minimal adverse effects, primarily related to gastrointestinal upset. A systematic review found low quality of evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of herbal and nutritional medicines for older adults due to high risk of bias in the available trials.
6.4 Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha)
Traditional Use
Withania somnifera, known as ashwagandha or Indian winter cherry, has been used for over 3,000 years in Ayurvedic medicine as an adaptogen and general tonic — particularly to strengthen the nervous system, reduce fatigue, and improve memory. It was administered as a root powder mixed with milk or ghee.
Bioactive Compounds
Ashwagandha contains several bioactive compounds, such as ergostane-type steroidal lactones including withanolides A–Y, dehydrowithanolide-R, withasomniferin-A, withasomniferols A–C, withaferin A, withanone, and others. Other constituents include phytosterols sitoindosides VII–X and beta-sitosterol and alkaloids.
Scientific Evidence
After eight weeks of study, the ashwagandha treatment group in one trial demonstrated significant improvements in both immediate and general memory tests compared to the placebo group. The treatment group also showed significant improvement in executive function, sustained attention, and related outcomes. These studies lend credence to ashwagandha's role in enhancing memory and improving executive function in people with stress-related cognitive impairment or mild cognitive impairment. Most available clinical trials are small, of short duration, and heterogeneous in preparation and dose. Larger, well-designed RCTs are needed before definitive conclusions can be drawn.
7. Dietary and Lifestyle Factors
7.1 Dietary Patterns
The diet is directly connected not only with physical status but also with the functioning of the brain and mental status. A prospective trial of 1,880 participants found that a Mediterranean diet rich in fish, vegetables, and fruits, along with regular physical exercise, reduced the incidence of cognitive impairment. High intake of saturated fat and refined carbohydrates has been associated with adverse neurological outcomes, while dietary patterns rich in polyunsaturated fats, antioxidants, and whole foods are consistently associated with better brain health outcomes in the epidemiological literature.
7.2 The Gut–Brain Axis: Probiotics and Diet
The microbiota–gut–brain axis represents a bidirectional communication pathway among the central nervous system, the enteric nervous system, and the emotional and cognitive centers of the brain. Microbiota-targeted interventions with probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, antibiotics, dietary modifications, and fecal microbiota transplantation are examined for their therapeutic potential. These strategies appear promising to reinstate microbial balance, enhance neuroplastic responses, and ameliorate disease symptoms.
Probiotic supplementation improves sleep quality, reduces anxiety and depressive symptoms, and modulates metabolic pathways related to neurotransmission, while low microbial diversity and dysbiosis are associated with poorer sleep quality and neurological outcomes.
7.3 Physical Exercise
Research indicates that gut microbiota plays vital roles in metabolic shifts during physiological or pathophysiological conditions in neurodegenerative diseases. Exercise has shown positive effects on brain health and cognitive function, which may reduce or delay the onset of severe neurological disorders. By promoting a more balanced gut microbiome, exercise may provide a dual benefit: it helps normalize HPA axis activity while supporting the microbial communities that produce sleep-promoting neurotransmitters, creating a more favorable neurochemical environment for restful sleep.
7.4 Sleep
Sleep is essential for physical, mental, and emotional well-being, regulating processes such as memory consolidation, hormonal balance, and immune function. It is influenced by the gut-brain axis, which integrates signals from the gut microbiome and the central nervous system. Exercise influences microbial diversity, the production of sleep-related metabolites like serotonin, GABA, and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and immune responses that collectively shape sleep architecture.
7.5 Alcohol and Lifestyle Toxins
Autopsy studies have shown a prevalence of 12.5% for Wernicke's encephalopathy among individuals with chronic alcohol use, with a higher prevalence in men; however, women are more sensitive to developing this condition. Chronic alcohol intake directly depletes thiamine and other B vitamins, creating one of the most well-documented nutritionally mediated neurological syndromes. In developed countries, factors like alcohol consumption, bariatric surgery, and metformin use are increasing nutritional deficiencies contributing to neuropathy in clinical practice.
8. Summary of Evidence Quality
- Well-established: The roles of B vitamins (especially B1, B6, B12) in myelin synthesis, neurotransmitter production, and protection against deficiency-related neuropathies are supported by robust clinical and mechanistic evidence.
- Substantial (but still evolving): Omega-3 fatty acids (EPA/DHA) have structural and anti-inflammatory roles in the nervous system supported by epidemiological and some RCT evidence, with benefits most consistent in populations at risk for cognitive decline. Effect sizes in healthy adults remain modest and inconsistent.
- Strong mechanistic/emerging clinical: Magnesium, in the context of migraine and depression, is supported by strong data; evidence for its role in Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and other neurodegenerative conditions is emerging but incomplete.
- Primarily preclinical / early-stage clinical: Vitamin D's nervous system roles are compelling in animal and in vitro models; interventional human trials are controversial and inconclusive. Lion's mane clinical trials are small and of short duration.
- Moderate to mixed clinical evidence: Bacopa monnieri shows consistent signals for memory in RCTs, though trial quality is variable. Ginkgo biloba has dementia-related evidence but does not clearly benefit cognitively intact adults.
- Traditional use without strong clinical trial support: Ashwagandha has a long Ayurvedic history; preliminary clinical data on cognitive and stress outcomes are promising but require replication in larger trials.
References
- Wendołowicz A et al. "Influence of selected dietary components on the functioning of the human nervous system." Rocz Panstw Zakl Hig. 2018;69(1):15-21 — PubMed
- StatPearls: Anatomy, Central Nervous System — NCBI Bookshelf
- StatPearls: Anatomy, Autonomic Nervous System — NCBI Bookshelf
- Bertocchi I et al. "Nutritional modulation of central nervous system development, maintenance, plasticity, and recovery." Frontiers in Neuroscience. 2023
- Calderón-Ospina CA, Nava-Mesa MO. "B Vitamins in the nervous system: Current knowledge of the biochemical modes of action and synergies of thiamine, pyridoxine, and cobalamin." CNS Neurosci Ther. 2020 — PMC
- Rivera-León EA et al. "B Vitamin Deficiencies and Associated Neuropathies." Current Nutrition Reports. 2026 — PMC
- Shikh EV et al. "Neurological disorders in vitamin B12 deficiency." PubMed. 2019
- Rauf I et al. "Exploring neuropsychiatric manifestations of vitamin B complex deficiencies." PMC. 2025
- Didangelos T et al. "Association between neuropathy and B-vitamins: A systematic review and meta-analysis." PubMed. 2021
- Dyall SC. "Long-chain omega-3 fatty acids and the brain: a review of the independent and shared effects of EPA, DPA and DHA." Front Aging Neurosci. 2015 — PMC
- Dighriri IM et al. "Effects of Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids on Brain Functions: A Systematic Review." Cureus. 2022 — PMC
- DiNicolantonio JJ, O'Keefe JH. "Neuroprotective effects of magnesium: implications for neuroinflammation and cognitive decline." Frontiers in Endocrinology. 2024
- Kirkland AE et al. "The Role of Magnesium in Neurological Disorders." Nutrients. 2018 — PMC
- Naveilhan P et al. "Review: the role of vitamin D in nervous system health and disease." PubMed. 2013
- Bivona G et al. "Vitamin D in Central Nervous System: Implications for Neurological Disorders." Int J Mol Sci. 2024 — PMC
- Kiely ME et al. "Association of magnesium intake and vitamin D status with cognitive function in older adults: NHANES 2011–2014." PMC. 2020
- Docherty S et al. "Acute effects of a standardised extract of Hericium erinaceus on cognition and mood in healthy younger adults." Front Nutr. 2025 — PMC
- Lai PL et al. "Neurohealth Properties of Hericium erinaceus Mycelia Enriched with Erinacines." Behav Neurol. 2018 — PMC
- Hołub M et al. "Neurotrophic and Neuroprotective Effects of Hericium erinaceus." Nutrients. 2023 — PMC
- Docherty S et al. "The Acute and Chronic Effects of Lion's Mane Mushroom Supplementation on Cognitive Function, Stress and Mood in Young Adults: A Double-Blind, Parallel Groups, Pilot Study." Nutrients. 2023 — PMC
- Contato AG, Conte-Junior CA. "Lion's Mane Mushroom (Hericium erinaceus): A Neuroprotective Fungus with Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, and Antimicrobial Potential." Nutrients. 2025 — PMC
- Kellermann AJ, Kloft C. "A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Ginkgo biloba in Neuropsychiatric Disorders." CNS Neurosci Ther. 2011 — PMC
- Valotto Neto LJ et al. "Investigating the Neuroprotective and Cognitive-Enhancing Effects of Bacopa monnieri: A Systematic Review." Antioxidants. 2024 — PMC
- Basheer MF et al. "Comparative effects of Bacopa monnieri and Ginkgo biloba on cognitive functions: A systematic review and network meta-analysis." Phytomedicine. 2026
- Mewborn CM et al. "The effects of twenty-one nutrients and phytonutrients on cognitive function: A narrative review." Cogn Neuropsychol. 2021 — PMC
- Cascella M et al. "Neuroprotective Herbs for the Management of Alzheimer's Disease." Biomedicines. 2021 — PMC
- Ernst E et al. "A systematic review of the safety and efficacy on cognitive function of herbal and nutritional medicines in older adults." PMC. 2023
- Noor N et al. "The gut-brain axis: role of gut microbiota in neurological disease pathogenesis and pharmacotherapeutics." PubMed. 2025
- Quigley EMM. "The Microbiota–Gut–Brain Axis and Neurological Disorders: A Comprehensive Review." PMC. 2024
- Yanes JA et al. "Examining the Interaction between Exercise, Gut Microbiota, and Neurodegeneration." Antioxidants. 2023 — PMC
- Morris G et al. "Exercise as a modulator of gut microbiota for improvement of sleep quality: a narrative review." Front Neurosci. 2025 — PMC
Go back