Neuro-Nutrition Course

Lesson 1 • Micronutrients Essential for Neural Health

Covers vitamins and minerals that serve as cofactors in neurotransmitter synthesis and neuroprotection. Establishes deficiency consequences as a clinical reference point.

Lesson 2 • Core Neurochemistry Concepts

Introduces neurotransmitters, receptors, and signalling pathways relevant to diet. Links biochemical mechanisms to observable cognitive and behavioural outcomes.

Lesson 3 • Macronutrients and Brain Energy

Examines how glucose, fatty acids, and amino acids fuel neural activity. Connects macronutrient metabolism to brain performance and cognitive endurance.

Lesson 4 • Brain Structure and Function Overview

Maps key brain regions and their roles in cognition, mood, and appetite. Provides anatomical context for all subsequent nutrition-brain discussions.

Lesson 1 • Diet, Dysbiosis, and Neuroinflammation

Analyses how poor dietary choices disrupt microbial balance and trigger systemic inflammation affecting the brain. Builds the case for dietary intervention as a neuroinflammation strategy.

Lesson 2 • Probiotics, Prebiotics, and Psychobiotics

Reviews evidence for fermented foods, probiotic supplements, and prebiotic fibres in supporting gut-brain health. Equips students to evaluate psychobiotic claims critically.

Lesson 3 • Anatomy of the Gut-Brain Connection

Describes the enteric nervous system, vagus nerve, and gut-brain signalling pathways. Grounds subsequent microbiome and dietary discussions in anatomical reality.

Lesson 1 • GABA, Glutamate, and Excitatory Balance

Explains the inhibitory-excitatory balance between GABA and glutamate and its dietary modulators. Addresses anxiety, stress resilience, and sleep through a nutritional lens.

Lesson 2 • Methylation, Homocysteine, and Brain Health

Examines the one-carbon metabolism cycle and its impact on neurotransmitter synthesis and DNA methylation. Identifies B-vitamin strategies to manage homocysteine and reduce neurological risk.

Lesson 3 • Acetylcholine and Cognitive Nutrition

Focuses on choline metabolism and its role in acetylcholine synthesis for memory and attention. Identifies high-choline foods and supplementation strategies for cognitive support.

Lesson 4 • Dopamine and Catecholamine Nutrition

Covers the tyrosine-to-dopamine pathway and nutritional factors affecting motivation and reward. Links dopamine dysregulation to food cravings and addictive eating patterns.

Lesson 1 • Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Brain Inflammation

Reviews EPA and DHA mechanisms in resolving neuroinflammation and supporting membrane fluidity. Covers dietary sources, bioavailability, and optimal intake strategies.

Lesson 2 • Polyphenols and Neuroprotection

Examines flavonoids, resveratrol, curcumin, and other polyphenols as modulators of neuroinflammatory pathways. Addresses bioavailability challenges and practical dietary inclusion strategies.

Lesson 3 • Anti-Inflammatory Dietary Patterns

Synthesises evidence for whole dietary patterns—Mediterranean, MIND, and plant-rich diets—in reducing neuroinflammation. Enables students to translate pattern-level evidence into client recommendations.

Lesson 4 • Mechanisms of Neuroinflammation

Explains microglial activation, cytokine cascades, and oxidative stress in the brain. Establishes the biological targets that dietary interventions aim to modulate.

Lesson 1 • Attention, Focus, and Dietary Factors

Identifies nutrients and meal timing strategies that sustain attention and reduce cognitive fatigue. Addresses common dietary disruptors of focus in professional and academic settings.

Lesson 2 • Nootropic Nutrients and Adaptogens

Reviews evidence for nootropic compounds—lion's mane, bacopa, rhodiola, and others—in supporting cognitive function. Teaches critical appraisal of nootropic research quality.

Lesson 3 • Nutrition and Memory Consolidation

Examines how specific nutrients support hippocampal neurogenesis and long-term potentiation. Connects dietary choices to encoding, storage, and retrieval of memories.

Lesson 4 • Hydration, Electrolytes, and Brain Function

Quantifies the cognitive impact of mild dehydration and electrolyte imbalances on neural performance. Provides practical hydration protocols for sustained cognitive output.

Lesson 1 • Trauma, Resilience, and Nutritional Support

Explores how chronic stress and trauma alter nutritional needs and how targeted nutrition supports resilience. Addresses the bidirectional relationship between trauma, appetite, and nutrient depletion.

Lesson 2 • Anxiety, Stress, and Nutritional Modulators

Examines how nutrients and dietary patterns modulate the HPA axis, cortisol, and anxiety symptoms. Provides practical dietary strategies for stress resilience and anxiety reduction.

Lesson 3 • Nutritional Support for Sleep and Recovery

Connects dietary choices to sleep architecture, melatonin production, and overnight neural repair. Provides actionable evening nutrition protocols for improved sleep quality.

Lesson 4 • Nutritional Psychiatry Foundations

Introduces the field of nutritional psychiatry, its evidence base, and its relationship to conventional mental health care. Establishes scope of practice boundaries for nutrition professionals.

Lesson 1 • Preventive Nutrition Protocols for Brain Aging

Synthesises neuroprotective dietary evidence into structured, age-specific preventive protocols. Equips students to deliver practical, personalised brain-aging prevention plans.

Lesson 2 • Mitochondrial Health and Brain Longevity

Examines mitochondrial biogenesis, energy efficiency, and their dietary regulators as targets for brain aging. Introduces caloric restriction, fasting, and mitochondria-supportive nutrients.

Lesson 3 • Vascular Dementia and Cardiovascular Nutrition

Connects cardiovascular risk factors—hypertension, dyslipidaemia, and atherosclerosis—to vascular dementia risk. Applies heart-brain nutrition principles to dementia prevention strategies.

Lesson 4 • Alzheimer's Disease and Nutritional Risk Factors

Analyses amyloid, tau, and metabolic pathways implicated in Alzheimer's and their dietary modulators. Identifies high-risk dietary patterns and evidence-based protective alternatives.

Lesson 1 • Functional Lab Testing for Brain Health

Covers key biomarkers—nutrient levels, inflammatory markers, and genetic panels—relevant to neuro-nutrition assessment. Teaches interpretation of results in a clinical nutrition context.

Lesson 2 • Neuro-Nutrition Assessment Tools

Introduces validated questionnaires, dietary recall methods, and cognitive screening tools used in clinical practice. Builds a systematic intake process for neuro-nutrition clients.

Lesson 3 • Monitoring, Reassessment, and Iteration

Establishes a systematic process for tracking client progress and adjusting protocols based on outcomes. Develops clinical reasoning skills for iterative neuro-nutrition care.

Lesson 4 • Special Populations in Neuro-Nutrition

Adapts neuro-nutrition assessment and protocols for children, older adults, pregnant individuals, and athletes. Addresses unique neurological and nutritional needs across the lifespan.