Review: nutrition, sleep and circadian rhythm in age-related neurodegeneration
This review synthesizes experimental, clinical, epidemiological and translational evidence on how the interconnected nutrition-sleep-circadian network may contribute to Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, and evaluates interventions such as chrononutrition and light-based circadian therapies. [1]
Automatic summary · not editorially reviewed
The key findings
The review synthesizes experimental, clinical, epidemiological and translational evidence on how dysfunction of the nutrition-sleep-circadian axis may contribute to Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. [1]
The review states that disruption of the axis may accelerate age-related neurodegeneration through impaired glymphatic clearance, altered protein aggregation, circadian misalignment, gut-brain axis dysfunction and metabolic imbalance. [1]
The review evaluates chrononutrition, Mediterranean-style dietary patterns, time-restricted feeding, light-based circadian therapies and lifestyle strategies, and concludes the axis is a promising therapeutic target. [1]
The source at a glance
- Study type / format
- Narrative review (abstract only)
- Population / context
- People with or at risk of age-related neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, as discussed in the review
- Summary based on
- Study abstract
- Original publication
- August 18, 2026
Review scope: nutrition-sleep-circadian axis in AD and PD
The review addresses how nutrition, sleep and circadian rhythms act as an interconnected biological network regulating metabolic homeostasis, mitochondrial function, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, protein balance and neuronal resilience. It synthesizes experimental, clinical, epidemiological and translational evidence on how disruption of this axis may contribute to the development of Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. The authors frame advanced age as accompanied by progressive metabolic, nutritional, mitochondrial and neuroimmune dysregulation that may raise susceptibility to these disorders.
Supporting source [1]
Proposed mechanisms and evaluated interventions
The review emphasizes molecular pathways involving mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative damage, neuroimmune activation, clock-gene regulation, impaired protein clearance and gut microbiota interactions. It states that disruption of the axis may accelerate age-related neurodegeneration through impaired glymphatic clearance, altered protein aggregation, circadian misalignment, gut-brain axis dysfunction and metabolic imbalance. It evaluates emerging interventions including chrononutrition, Mediterranean-style dietary patterns, time-restricted feeding, light-based circadian therapies and lifestyle strategies targeting multiple ageing-related mechanisms at once.
Supporting source [1]
Knowledge gaps and limits of this abstract
The review discusses current knowledge gaps, methodological limitations and future research priorities for integrating nutritional, circadian and metabolic approaches into precision strategies for healthy brain ageing. It concludes that the available evidence supports the axis as a central regulator of biological ageing and a promising therapeutic target for delaying neurodegeneration, preserving cognitive function and improving healthy lifespan. These are the authors' interpretations of a broad evidence base, not demonstrated causal effects in people.
Supporting source [1]
How to interpret this
This is an abstract only; the full text was not reviewed. The review synthesizes heterogeneous experimental, clinical, epidemiological and translational evidence, and the abstract reports no specific study design, sample sizes, follow-up or effect estimates. Statements about mechanisms and therapeutic promise are the authors' interpretations, not demonstrated causal effects in humans.
Based on the study abstract; the full paper, tables and supplementary data were not reviewed.
Source & supporting passages
Basha S, Mahato KK. · europepmc.org · August 18, 2026