Patrick Holford is a highly acclaimed author, researcher, and champion for nutrition and mental health. As the founder and CEO of UK charity Food for the Brain, he is at the forefront of promoting brain health through improved nutrition. Since the 1970s, Holford has been raising awareness about declining IQ scores worldwide and attributing this trend to diets high in complex carbohydrates and sugar.
Holford believes that mental health issues are a pressing concern that requires immediate attention. He points to rising rates of depression, autism, ADHD, and dementia as evidence of this troubling trend. Research shows that there has been approximately a 7% decrease in IQ per generation since the 1970s, which highlights the severity of this problem.
Holford is particularly concerned about the prevalence of mental health issues among children. In some regions of the UK, over half of women are taking antidepressants, which underscores the magnitude of this issue. Despite these challenges, Holford remains determined to raise awareness about mental health through Food for the Brain and make as much noise as possible.
To support its cause, Food for the Brain has been conducting at-home blood spot tests and digital cognitive health questionnaires with thousands of participants. Through this initiative, the charity aims to provide nutrition advice and build a comprehensive database on mental and cognitive health status. For more information on this mission, listeners can tune into a podcast featuring Nikki Hancocks from NutraIngredients Europe Editor.
Overall, Patrick Holford’s work with Food for the Brain is an essential step towards promoting better nutrition for mental health and wellbeing.
