Cited by 382Magnesium in Health and DiseaseMigraine and Headache StudiesMagnesium Alloys: Properties and Applications

The Role of Magnesium in Neurological Disorders

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Kirkland, Anna E., Sarlo, Gabrielle L., Holton, Kathleen F.·2018·Nutrients

Abstract

Magnesium is well known for its diverse actions within the human body. From a neurological standpoint, magnesium plays an essential role in nerve transmission and neuromuscular conduction. It also functions in a protective role against excessive excitation that can lead to neuronal cell death (excitotoxicity), and has been implicated in multiple neurological disorders. Due to these important functions within the nervous system, magnesium is a mineral of intense interest for the potential prevention and treatment of neurological disorders. Current literature is reviewed for migraine, chronic pain, epilepsy, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and stroke, as well as the commonly comorbid conditions of anxiety and depression. Previous reviews and meta-analyses are used to set the scene for magnesium research across neurological conditions, while current research is reviewed in greater detail to update the literature and demonstrate the progress (or lack thereof) in the field. There is strong data to suggest a role for magnesium in migraine and depression, and emerging data to suggest a protective effect of magnesium for chronic pain, anxiety, and stroke. More research is needed on magnesium as an adjunct treatment in epilepsy, and to further clarify its role in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Overall, the mechanistic attributes of magnesium in neurological diseases connote the macromineral as a potential target for neurological disease prevention and treatment.

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  1. [11]Michael J. Aminoff D.A.G.P. David A. Greenburg D. Roger P. Simon R. Clinical Neurology McGraw-Hill New York, NY, USA 2009

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Authors
Kirkland, A. E., Sarlo, G. L., & Holton, K. F.
Affiliations
American University (US)
Corresponding author
Holton, Kathleen F.
Venue
Nutrients
Publisher
MDPI AG
Published
2018-06-06
Volume
10
Issue
6
Pages
730
ISSN
2072-6643 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2805135260
Cited by
382
References
205
Citations by year
2026: 55 · 2025: 71 · 2024: 60 · 2023: 54 · 2022: 49 · 2021: 38 · 2020: 40 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 2
FWCI
2.90
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Nutrients (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • American University Research Archive
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Magnesium in Health and Disease
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Migraine and Headache Studies
  • Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Biomaterials › Magnesium Alloys: Properties and Applications
Keywords
magnesium, neurological disorders, excitotoxicity, nerve transmission, neuromuscular conduction, migraine, chronic pain, epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, stroke, anxiety, depression, magnesium supplementation, neuroprotection
MeSH terms
Brain, Central Nervous System Agents, Central Nervous System Diseases, Humans, Magnesium, Prognosis, Spinal Cord

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