Targeting the cardio-neuro axis through nutrition: inflammatory mechanisms linking cardiovascular and...

Non-communicable diseases (NCD), particularly cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and neurodegenerative diseases (ND), remain leading causes of global morbidity and mortality. Although traditionally studied in isolation, accumulating evidence indicates that these conditions are mechanistically interconnected through shared pathways, including chronic systemic inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and dysregulated lipid metabolism. Here, we propose a cardio-neuro axis in which vascular and neurodegenerative processes are linked along a continuum that is modifiable through diet. In this perspective, we synthesise evidence linking inflammatory and neurovascular dysfunction across CVD and ND and argue that nutrition represents a primary, yet under-integrated, lever for targeting these shared mechanisms. We focus on dietary patterns and bioactive components that influence inflammation resolution, endothelial function, and metabolic homeostasis. However, despite strong mechanistic rationale, nutritional strategies for ND remain fragmented, with an overreliance on single-nutrient interventions and limited incorporation of vascular endpoints or mechanistic biomarkers. We contend that progress in this field requires a shift from reductionist approaches toward whole-diet interventions evaluated using integrated cardio-neuro outcomes, alongside stratified and personalised designs. Embedding nutrition within a unified cardio-neuro framework earlier in life may offer a scalable and mechanistically grounded strategy to reduce the burden of NCD across the life course.