Patrick Holford is a prominent figure in the fields of nutrition and mental health. As the author of several books and the founder and CEO of the UK charity Food for the Brain, he is dedicated to spreading awareness about the importance of nutrition for brain health. For decades, Holford has been researching the impact of diet on intelligence, emphasizing that mental health problems are a serious and pressing issue.

According to Holford, decline in IQ scores over the years can be attributed to diets high in complex carbs and sugar. He stresses that 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 concerns, 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 and is building a substantial databank to support its cause.

Food for the Brain aims to bring about a widespread shift in perceptions around mental and cognitive health by raising awareness about the link between nutrition and brain health. To learn more about Patrick Holford’s work and Food for the Brain’s mission, listen to a podcast with NutraIngredients Europe Editor Nikki Hancocks for full details.