The double role of nutrients in Parkinson’s disease

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,