Neuroprotective Potential of Nutritional and Ayurvedic Therapies: An Integrative Review for Neurological Disease Management

Neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and stroke pose an escalating global health challenge, with current pharmacological treatments offering limited effectiveness and often failing to address underlying disease mechanisms. This review explores integrative therapeutic strategies derived from Ayurvedic medicine and nutritional science, emphasizing their potential to modulate key neurodegenerative processes, including oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and proteostasis collapse. Ayurvedic neuroactive herbs, particularly Bacopa monnieri , Withania somnifera , and Curcuma longa, demonstrate pleiotropic pharmacological actions, such as enhancing antioxidant defenses, modulating neurotransmitter systems, and inhibiting pathological protein aggregation. Systemic Ayurvedic practices like Panchakarma are also discussed for their potential to restore physiological balance and detoxification. Complementing these are evidence-based dietary interventions, notably the Mediterranean and ketogenic diets, which provide neuroprotective nutrients and metabolic substrates that enhance neuronal resilience and reduce inflammation. A central focus of this review is the gut–brain axis, proposed as a shared mechanistic pathway through which both Ayurvedic and nutritional interventions exert systemic effects on brain health. Concepts from Ayurveda will show striking parallels with emerging understandings of gut microbiota-mediated inflammation and neurodegeneration. The convergence of traditional and modern perspectives offers a coherent, multitargeted approach to neurological health. While preclinical and preliminary clinical data are promising, further interdisciplinary research, including robust clinical trials, is essential to substantiate these integrative strategies and guide their incorporation into mainstream neurological care. This review underscores the value of combining traditional wisdom with modern science to develop more effective, holistic approaches to neurodegenerative disease management.