The malattie neurodegenerative are a set of pathologies that lead to a progressive degeneration of nerve cells. The most common are Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. There dementia, growing in the world population, has been defined by the WHO (World Health Organization) as a global public health priority. Today, more than ever, attention has shifted to research and on the prevention, with particular precautions in lifestyle starting from ours diet.
What are neurodegenerative diseases?
Neurodegenerative diseases lead to the progressive degeneration or death of nerve cells. The main ones are Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Huntington’s disease. For the next few years, a greater incidence of Alzheimer’s disease is expected, which, according to the WHO, is already the seventh leading cause of mortality in the world.
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The progressive degeneration of neurons leads to cognitive dysfunction, motor problems, psychological and behavioral disorders. The onset is often asymptomatic and symptoms appear only when the neuronal damage has spread.
The importance of prevention at the table
One of the most current topics is what reaches our tables, both for issues relating to sustainability and the prevention of neurodegenerative diseases. Nutrition becomes something more than a mere supply of nutrients for daily needs, but a tool for maintaining psycho-physical well-being in balance.
Science has identified the biological processes underlying neurodegeneration and which eating habits help prevent its onset. CREA (Italian Agri-food Research Institute) has drawn attention to Mediterranean diet model. Furthermore, recent studies have shown that a nutrition based on foods with antioxidant properties and low in saturated fats, as I explain in this item on the web magazine of the Patrizio Paoletti Foundation, represents a protective factor in the prevention of neurodegenerative diseases.