Patrick Holford, a renowned expert in nutrition and mental health, has dedicated his career to spreading awareness about the importance of nutrition for brain health. As the founder and CEO of the UK charity Food for the Brain, he has been advocating for a diet that is high in fats, essential vitamins, and minerals since the 1970s.

Through his books and research, Holford has highlighted the decline in IQ scores over the years and attributes it to diets high in complex carbs and sugar. He emphasizes that mental health problems are a serious and urgent issue, as evidenced by reports that rank them as the most expensive and pressing health concerns. Conditions such as depression, autism, ADHD, and dementia are on the rise, with an increase in children’s mental health problems being particularly alarming.

In response to these issues, Food for the Brain is using at-home blood spot tests and digital cognitive health questionnaires to analyze the nutrition and cognition status of thousands of participants. The charity provides nutrition advice to participants based on their results and is building a substantial databank to support its cause. Through these efforts, Food for the Brain hopes to bring about a widespread shift in perceptions around mental and cognitive health.

To learn more about Patrick Holford’s work with Food for the Brain or how you can get involved with their mission to improve brain health through nutrition, you can listen to our interview with NutraIngredients Europe Editor Nikki Hancocks for full details.