Patrick Holford is a renowned figure in the fields of nutrition and mental health, known for his advocacy of high-fat, vitamin-rich diets. As the founder and CEO of UK charity Food for the Brain, he is committed to spreading awareness about the link between nutrition and brain health. For decades, he has been researching the impact of diet on intelligence, drawing attention to the decline in IQ scores over the years and blaming it on diets high in complex carbs and sugar.
Mental health problems are becoming increasingly prevalent, with conditions such as depression, autism, ADHD, and dementia on the rise. Children’s mental health issues are particularly concerning. In response to this crisis, Food for the Brain is using at-home blood spot tests and digital cognitive health questionnaires to analyze participants’ nutrition and cognition status. The charity provides nutrition advice to its participants and is building a substantial databank to support its mission. Through these efforts, Food for the Brain hopes to bring about a shift in perceptions around mental and cognitive health. To learn more about Patrick Holford’s work and Food for the Brain’s mission, listen to a podcast with Nikki Hancocks of NutraIngredients Europe.