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Why Sodium Matters for Brain Health

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By: Lauren Bryan, reviewed by a registered dietitian

Lauren Bryan is a fourth-year Biology undergraduate student with a minor in Nutritional Sciences at the University of Florida. She will graduate this May. She plans to attend medical school in the fall of 2026. In the meantime, she is expanding her knowledge and appreciation of nutritional sciences and their connection to patient care. She is particularly interested in how dietary adjustments can enhance patient outcomes, especially in neurology and overall well-being.

How This Mineral Helps—and Hurts—Neurological Conditions

nutrition

Sodium is more than just another seasoning in your cabinet. It’s an electrolyte, important for movement, heart function, and brain signaling. Many people know table salt (sodium chloride) is a source of sodium, but there are many food sources that provide this important mineral. For people with neurological conditions like epilepsy, Alzheimer’s disease, or multiple sclerosis (MS), keeping sodium levels in the right balance is especially important.1

Your brain and nervous system use electrical signals to control everything you do—from walking and talking to thinking and remembering. Sodium plays a big role in carrying those signals. When sodium levels are too low (a condition called hyponatremia), people may feel weak, confused, dizzy, or even have seizures. On the other hand, too much sodium—often caused by eating lots of salty foods—can lead to high blood pressure, which damages blood vessels in the brain over time. This can raise the risk of strokes and memory problems.2

Some neurological conditions and medications might influence how much sodium someone consumes or impact how much sodium one needs. For instance:

  • Changes in blood pressure, such as orthostatic hypotension, could increase one’s sodium and fluid needs.3 
  • Gastrointestinal symptoms, like constipation, could affect hunger and food intake. Swallowing difficulty could cause someone to not eat enough, leading to lower sodium consumption.
  • Medications might affect the amount or types of food one eats.  For example, some medications should be taken on an empty stomach, but this could lead to skipping meals. Nausea as a side effect from medications might decrease one’s desire for food, potentially leading to lower sodium intake.
  • People with memory problems might forget to eat or not realize when they eat too much.4

That’s why it’s so important for people with neurological diseases to understand how much sodium to consume and the different sources of sodium in the diet.

Sneaky Sodium Facts

Did you know most sodium in the American diet doesn’t come from adding table salt to your meals but from ultra-processed foods in the diet? The Dietary Guidelines for Americans points out that over 75% of Americans exceed their daily recommended intake of sodium. Many common items like bread, deli meats, soups, and even some breakfast cereals contain sodium that can add up quickly. Even foods that don’t taste salty can contribute to one’s sodium intake, making it easy to exceed the recommended limit of 2,300 mg per day without realizing it.5

Managing Sodium Intake Through Food

Everyone’s sodium needs are different, especially if you’re managing a neurological condition. Depending on your health conditions and doctors’ guidance, you may need to increase or decrease the amount of sodium in your diet.

Ways to Increase Sodium Intake6:

  • Sports or electrolyte drinks
  • Broths and soups, seen highly in canned varieties
  • Cheeses such as cottage or American cheese
  • Pickled vegetables
  • Salted nuts

Ways to Decrease Sodium Intake7:

  • Grab fresh or frozen vegetables with no added salt
  • Search for labels including “low sodium” or “no salt added”
  • Season food with herbs, spices, or citrus fruit juices instead of salt
  • Rinse canned products before cooking to remove excess sodium
  • Try unsalted variations of nuts, seed, and whole grains

Be careful with ultra-processed or packaged foods, like crackers, condiments, and canned soups. Even if they don’t taste salty, these foods often have hidden sodium in them.  Try reading food labels and aiming for less than 140 mg of sodium per serving. Alternatively, look for “low sodium” or “no salt added” items when you can.8 Small changes in one’s diet can help manage sodium intake no matter the goal in mind.

Bottom Line

Sodium is essential for a healthy brain, but too much or too little can cause serious problems—especially if you have a neurological condition. Eating the right kinds of foods, drinking enough water, and checking in with your doctor can help you keep your sodium levels balanced and your brain working its best.

References:

  1. Mohan D, Yap KH, Reidpath D, et al. Link between dietary sodium intake, cognitive function, and dementia risk in middle-aged and older adults: A systematic review. J Alzheimers Dis. 2020;76(4):1347-1373. doi:10.3233/JAD-191339
  2. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Salt and sodium. The Nutrition Source. Published July 18, 2013. Accessed May 6, 2025. https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/salt-and-sodium/
  3. Pfeiffer R. Autonomic dysfunction in Parkinson’s disease. Neurotherapeutics. 2022;17(4):1464-1479. doi: 10.1007/s13311-020-00897-4
  4. Volkert D, Chourdakis M, Faxen-Irving G, et al. ESPEN guidelines on nutrition in dementia. Clin Nutr. 2015;34(6):1052-1073. doi: 10.1016/j.clnu.2015.09.004.
  5. U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020–2025. 9th ed. December 2020. https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/sites/default/files/2021-03/Dietary_Guidelines_for_Americans-2020-2025.pdf
  6. World Health Organization. Annex 2: Examples of sodium content in various foods and food groups. In: Guideline: Sodium Intake for Adults and Children. WHO Press; 2012. Accessed May 16, 2025. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK133307/
  7. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Tips for reducing sodium intake. Published January 31, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/salt/reduce-sodium-intake/index.html
  8. American Heart Association. How much sodium should I eat per day? Published January 5, 2024. Accessed May 6, 2025. https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/eat-smart/sodium/how-much-sodium-should-i-eat-per-day