Rethinking neurodegeneration: A systems biology approach to brain health
- research2693
- Oct 16
- 3 min read
Neurodegenerative diseases, including Motor Neurone Disease (MND)/Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson’s Disease, Huntington’s Disease, and Dementia — are often described as progressive and irreversible.
But new thinking is emerging. A growing number of researchers and clinicians believe that by understanding the systems biology of the brain, the complex network of pathways that influence energy, inflammation, and repair — we may be able to slow, and in some cases partially reverse, aspects of neurodegenerative decline.
In this episode of the Nutritional Medicine Podcast, host Benjamin Brown speaks with Dr Kirstie Lawton, PhD, about how a personalised, nutrition-centred approach could transform the future of brain health.
🎧 Watch or listen to the full episode above
A New Way of Thinking About Brain Health
Dr Lawton and Benjamin Brown discuss how understanding modifiable biological systems, from mitochondria and inflammation to nutrient signalling and detoxification, could change the course of neurodegenerative care.
This isn’t about miracle cures or false hope. It’s about using evidence-based nutrition and lifestyle interventions to support the body’s own capacity for repair and resilience.
As research continues to evolve, this systems-based, personalised approach could become a powerful tool not only for treatment but for prevention, helping everyone maintain sharper thinking, better mood, and healthier ageing.
What you’ll discover
Why neurodegenerative diseases may not be as “fixed” as once thought
The science behind personalised nutritional and lifestyle medicine for brain resilience
How biological factors like oxidative stress, inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and gut–brain communication contribute to neurodegeneration
What a systems biology approach really means — and how it helps identify root causes rather than just treating symptoms
Dr Lawton’s own experience recovering from unexplained neurological symptoms through diet and lifestyle changes
Whether you’re living with a neurodegenerative condition, supporting a loved one, or simply wanting to protect your brain as you age, this discussion offers both hope and scientific clarity.
About Dr Kirstie Lawton
Dr Kirstie Lawton is an AfN-registered Nutritionist, BANT-registered Nutritionist, and CNHC-registered Nutritional Therapist with over two decades of experience.
She holds a BSc (Hons) and PhD in Nutrition from Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, a DipION from the Institute for Optimum Nutrition (ION), and a PGCE in Higher Education from the University of London. She is currently completing an MSc in Neuroscience and Neurodegeneration at the University of Sheffield School of Medicine and Population Health.
Beyond her clinical practice, Dr Lawton helped establish the UK’s first Graduate Diploma in Integrative Functional Nutrition, developed by ION in collaboration with Portsmouth University. She also serves on the editorial board of the Nutritional Medicine Institute (NMI) and its journal.
Her passion for brain health is deeply personal, born from her own experience with neurological symptoms that conventional medicine could not explain, but which improved dramatically through nutrition and lifestyle medicine.
Today, her clinical work focuses on supporting individuals with ALS, Parkinson’s, dementia, and other neurodegenerative conditions, as well as carers and those wishing to prevent future decline through proactive brain health strategies.
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Dedication
This episode is dedicated to Ray Griffiths (1959–2025), whose pioneering work on Parkinson’s disease laid key foundations for a systems-based, nutrition-centred approach to brain health and neurodegeneration.
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