2024 Volume 41 Issue 4 Pages 510-513
In the past decade, there has been a growing recognition of specific nutritional pathophysiology in neurodegenerative diseases. Nutritional intervention has been discussed as a form of disease–modifying therapy. Most neurodegenerating diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Parkinson disease, are progressive, depriving patients of the joy of eating during the course of the diseases. Patients may also experience weight loss and malnutrition both in the early and advanced stages of the disease. Accumulating evidence suggests that weight loss or malnutrition may exacerbate disease severity and negatively impact survival prognosis in some of neurodegenerative diseases.
A high–fat, high–calorie diet has been reported to be effective in improving survival in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. However, effective nutritional therapies have not yet been established for most neurodegenerative diseases, and indications for gastrostomy have not been clearly defined for each neurodegenerative disease. Compared to pharmacological therapy, nutritional therapy excels in terms of safety and cost–effectiveness. As an inexpensive and side–effect–free form of disease–modifying treatment, nutritional therapy is expected to show increasing promise to the future.
