—

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other neurodevelopmental disorders, all classified as ‘neurodivergent’, have rocketed in both the UK and USA. 

One in six children is classified as neurodivergent or in need of special education and and one in 36 is diagnosed as autistic – a fourfold increase in 20 years. 

This cannot be explained away by genetics or better diagnosis.

On April 24^th, we are hosting a multi-disciplinary team of global experts – coming together for a virtual conference in London to explore what optimum nutrition and lifestyle choices are needed for smart, happy and healthy children and teens and what is driving this escalation of cognitive and behavioural problems.

—

—

The conference starts at the beginning – with pregnancy. Professor Michelle Murphy from the University of Madrid has found that the B vitamin status in the first trimester of pregnancy, measured with a homocysteine blood test, predicts problems, specifically withdrawn behaviour, anxiety or depression, social problems and aggressive behaviour in the child at age 6. Folate is one of these vital B vitamins and nine out of ten obese women in the EU fail to meet basic guidelines for folic acid supplementation to prevent neurodevelopmental problems. 

At the Chelsea and Westminster campus of Imperial College London, Professor Michael Crawford’s team at the Institute of Brain Chemistry and Human Nutrition, based at the Chelsea and Westminster campus of Imperial College London, is discussing the importance of marine food in the maternal diet., They have identified which mothers are likely to have neurodevelopmentally impaired infants based on their blood fat levels,, with omega-3 DHA, found in oily fish, being a critical brain-building nutrient.

Professor Julia Rucklidge, Director of New Zealand’s Mental Health and Nutrition Research Lab at the University of Canterbury, will present evidence for the essential role of multivitamins and minerals both during pregnancy and in improving children’s mental health.

This kind of research is also helping to identify what the optimal intake of nutrients is to optimise children’s potential. Dr Alex Richardson from Oxford University is presenting her evidence for helping children with ADHD-like symptoms and paediatric endocrinologist Professor Robert Lustig from the University of California San Francisco is pioneering research showing the dangers of high-fructose diets. “Teenagers with blood sugar problems are showing early signs of the same kind of cognitive decline and shrinkage of the hippocampus that are seen in Alzheimer’s.” The youngest non-genetic Alzheimer’s diagnosis is age 19.

Two clinicians, assistant professor Dr Chris D’Adamo from the University of Maryland in the US and Dr Lorene Amet from France, will be presenting cases of children diagnosed with autism who no longer are diagnosable as such and discussing nutritional and other interventions that are helping autistic children lessen troubling symptoms. “We have over 200 cases of autistic children who have benefitted. The majority have shown significant improvements but not all respond.” Says Dr Amet.

Dr Tommy Wood, Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Neuroscience at the University of Washington, will address the role of an active lifestyle, backed up by a presentation on the dangers of early smartphone use by Dr Jonathan Haidt, author of the New York Times best-seller ‘The Anxious Generation’. “The changes in diet, less active lifestyles and early smart phone use have created a perfect storm, negatively impacting a child’s healthy brain development. These are issues we have to address urgently for the sake of our children”, says Dr Tommy Wood, who heads research at the foodforthebrain.org, the charity hosting the conference.

The conference is opened by Dr Rona Tutt, OBE, past president of the National Association of Head Teachers and an expert in special needs. “People come in assorted shapes and sizes with brains that are unique.  A significant minority who are neurodivergent, need to be recognised, valued and supported, so they can maximise their strengths and overcome their challenges. We need to understand what is driving this increase in neurodivergence and how to best support and optimise a child’s potential”, she says.

The conference, which is tailored for nutritionists, doctors, teachers, and health professionals, is also open to interested parents.

—

We also have a webinar for everyone (parents, carers etc), where we will dive deeper into the topic of optimising neurodivergence. Find out more about the webinar here.

The conference coincides with the launch of COGNITION for Smart Kids & Teens, which offers a free online assessment to all parents and teenagers as part of a global research project aimed at optimising children’s intellectual and emotional development.

Please visit foodforthebrain.org/smartkids to find out more.

—

Food for the Brain is a not-for-profit educational and research charity that offers a free Cognitive Function Test and assesses your Dementia Risk Index to be able to advise you on how to dementia-proof your diet and lifestyle.

By completing the Cognitive Function Test you are joining our grassroots research initiative to find out what really works for preventing cognitive decline. We share our ongoing research results with you to help you make brain-friendly choices.

Please support our research by becoming a Friend of Food for the Brain.

References

¹ Roigé-Castellví J, Murphy M, Fernández-Ballart J, Canals J. Moderately elevated preconception fasting plasma total homocysteine is a risk factor for psychological problems in childhood. Public Health Nutr. 2019 Jun;22(9):1615-1623. doi: 10.1017/S1368980018003610. Epub 2019 Jan 14. PMID: 30636652; PMCID: PMC10261079.

² Loperfido, F., Sottotetti, F., Bianco, I. et al. Folic acid supplementation in European women of reproductive age and during pregnancy with excessive weight: a systematic review. Reprod Health 22, 13 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-025-01953-y

³ Yau PL, et al Obesity and metabolic syndrome and functional and structural brain impairments in adolescence. Pediatrics. 2012 

⁴ J. Jianping et al. ‘A 19-Year-Old Adolescent with probable Alzheimer’s Disease’ Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease 1 Jan 2023: 915-922

Recipe from the Upgrade Your Brain Cook App

—

Last month we released the Upgrade Your Brain Cook App, to help you eat delicious food every day that supports your brain health.

Many of you have subscribed to the App and to celebrate we want to share a brain-friendly makeover of pancakes – so you can enjoy pancake day the right way.

These pancakes have low glycemic load (0.6 per portion) which means they will keep your insulin levels steady – a crucial part of supporting cognitive function as we outline in our COGNITION programme in more depth. 

They are high in healthy brain fats due to being nut-based, which also means they are high in fibre (a whopping 4.6g per portion!) something your gut microbiome will love. Plus, if you drizzle with Chicory Root Syrup rather than honey or maple syrup you can boost the fibre content by another 3g! (Save 10% off your chicory root here when you use the code FFB10.UK only)

If you pair it with some berries you will also get the benefits of vitamin C and lots of antioxidants, too, and for added protein simply serve with some natural or Greek yogurt.

—

—

So, if you are struggling to turn all this brain health knowledge and research into practical meals, then subscribe to the Cook App today to get access to 100+ recipes for just £30 a year! We’re constantly adding new recipes and features.

—-

Almond Pancake Stack with Berries + Yoghurt

Serves: 3
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cooking Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients

150 g ground almonds
4 tablespoons (60 g) Greek yoghurt plus extra to serve
1 large egg
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
20 g raspberries (approx. 10 berries)
20 g blueberries (approx. 10 berries)
1 tablespoon chicory root syrup to drizzle (optional – use code FFB10 to save 10% off syrup and low GL bread from Dillons)

Method

In a blender, blitz the ground almonds, Greek yoghurt, egg and cinnamon into a thick batter.
Heat a non-stick frying pan over medium heat. Scoop a small ladle (approx. 3 tablespoons) of batter into the pan for each pancake.
Cook for 2-3 minutes on one side until bubbles appear, then flip and cook for another 1-2 minutes until golden brown. Repeat with the remaining batter.
Serve the pancakes warm, topped with raspberries, blueberries and a dollop of Greek yoghurt. 
Drizzle with a little chicory root syrup (optional)

—

Food for the Brain is a not-for-profit educational and research charity that offers a free Cognitive Function Test and assesses your Dementia Risk Index to be able to advise you on how to dementia-proof your diet and lifestyle.

By completing the Cognitive Function Test you are joining our grassroots research initiative to find out what really works for preventing cognitive decline. We share our ongoing research results with you to help you make brain-friendly choices.

Please support our research by becoming a Friend of Food for the Brain.

by Patrick Holford

—

Choline is an often-overlooked but vital nutrient for brain health.

A new study suggests the optimal intake is 400mg, yet there is no Recommended Daily Allowance or widespread promotion of this crucial nutrient. It is also notably low in vegetarian and especially vegan diets.

(We discuss this and more in our COGNITION 6-month brain upgrade programme – available when you become a FRIEND of Food for the Brain.)

A major study published this year found that higher choline intake lowers the risk of dementia, Alzheimer’s, and cognitive decline.

Researchers tracked 125,000 people from the UK Biobank for 12 years and the study was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. It showed that higher choline intake reduced risk, with the most benefit around 400mg per day.

__

—

Why does it matter?

Brain cells are made of a membrane containing choline (and other phospholipids) attached to the omega-3 fat DHA. Without choline the omega-3 doesn’t work. The attaching of the two depends on methylation, a process that is dependent on B vitamins, especially B12, folate and B6. Choline helps methylation and healthy methylation, indicated by low homocysteine, helps synthesise choline.

__

–

Also previous studies (2) have found remarkable effects supplementing 480-900mg of choline in pregnancy on promoting ‘smart’ babies with faster reflexes and cognitive processes. It’s important for all ages and a key topic in our Smart Kids & Teens Programme.

What should you do or eat?

Choline is essential for the body, especially the brain, yet it has no Recommended Daily Allowance.

Choline is abundant in eggs, fish, and meat. An egg provides about 120mg, while a 50g serving of beef or salmon contains around 50mg. Beef liver is the richest source, but eggs are the best overall because they contain phosphatidylcholine which is more easily absorbed by the body. Plant-based sources include soy, quinoa, nuts, seeds, beans, and broccoli. A 50g serving of almonds or broccoli provides about 25mg. Phosphatidylcholine, found in lecithin capsules and granules, is an easy supplement option for vegans and vegetarians.

We recommend eating two eggs most days, with a minimum of six per week. Include fish and some meat if you eat it, or soy, quinoa, broccoli, nuts, and seeds if you don’t. Supplementing is likely beneficial, especially for vegetarians. Taking two high-PC lecithin 1,200mg capsules daily provides 250mg of phosphatidylcholine (PC), the form used by the body. These supplements are available at your local health food store.

Remember, your brain is built from what you feed it – and how you use it (as covered in COGNITION). What choline-rich foods can you add to your diet this week?

If you’re unsure what to eat to support your brain or need inspiration, the Cook App is here to help! With over 100 recipes at your fingertips, eating delicious, brain-boosting foods has never been easier—all for just £30 a year.

Actions:

Take the Cognitive Function Test today – our validated online assessment – to find out exactly what you need to focus on.
Become a FRIEND and get access to your 6-month COGNITION programme so you know how to upgrade your brain.

–

Food for the Brain is a not-for-profit educational and research charity that offers a free Cognitive Function Test and assesses your Dementia Risk Index to be able to advise you on how to dementia-proof your diet and lifestyle.

By completing the Cognitive Function Test you are joining our grassroots research initiative to find out what really works for preventing cognitive decline. We share our ongoing research results with you to help you make brain-friendly choices.

Please support our research by becoming a Friend of Food for the Brain.

—Reference list

Reference

Niu YY, Yan HY, Zhong JF, Diao ZQ, Li J, Li CP, Chen LH, Huang WQ, Xu M, Xu ZT, Liang XF, Li ZH, Liu D. Association of dietary choline intake with incidence of dementia, Alzheimer disease, and mild cognitive impairment: a large population-based prospective cohort study. Am J Clin Nutr. 2025 Jan;121(1):5-13. doi: 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2024.11.001. Epub 2024 Nov 7. PMID: 39521435.
Caudill, M. et al, ‘Maternal choline supplementation during the third trimester of pregnancy improves infant information processing speed: a randomized, double-blind, controlled feeding study’ FASEB Journal (Apr 2018); 32(4): 2172-80. doi: 10.1096/fj.201700692RR.

25 Daily Habits That Reduce Dementia Risk

by Patrick Holford

In this article, we’ll explore daily habits to reduce dementia risk and what simple lifestyle changes can have a big impact on long-term brain health.

Dementia, including Alzheimer’s is not only the greatest cause of death entailing huge healthcare costs, it is the major fear for many about aging. The great news is that dementia and Alzheimer’s are preventable. Less than 1% of Alzheimer’s is caused by genes so for most of us, the risk for dementia and age-related cognitive decline relates to things we can easily change. 

At foodforthebrain.org we have tested (for free) almost half a million people with a validated Cognitive Function Test, followed by a questionnaire which calculates your future Dementia Risk Index and crucially, advises what to do about it. 

Your risk is divided into eight wellness domains (see image), highlighting areas to focus on to enable brain and cognitive powers to stay intact. 

Here are 25 simple steps you can take to dementia-proof your diet and lifestyle taken from our advice and my recent book, Upgrade Your Brain, which gives more detail for those who want to dig deeper.

Brain Fats – Up your brain fats – omega-3, phospholipids and vitamin D

1. Get your omega-3 index above 8%

You can measure your omega-3 index with a home test kit. Psychologists at the Linda Loma University in California did this for a group of older people, publishing their results in the journal Brain Sciences (1). They found that the higher a person’s omega-3 index was, the more white matter there was in their brain and the better they performed in cognitive tests. 
You can test your levels with a simple Omega-3 Index test or as part of the DRIFT 5-in-1 test.

2. Eat oily fish three times a week or SMASH it

S for salmon, M for mackerel, A for anchovies, S for sardines, and H for herrings or kippers. Caviar has the highest known levels of omega-3 DHA, which  builds your brain. Even having one serving a week almost halves the risk of Alzheimer’s. (2, 3). See the Best Fish for Brain table for a comparison of omega-3 levels, mercury content, and sustainability.

3. Supplement omega-3 fish oils

Aim for any supplement that provides 500mg of omega-3 DHA. This may mean two capsules a day. See this recent study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition of over 100,000 people (4). If you’re vegan, supplement with algal omega-3 DHA. 
Read more about omega-3 supplementation here.

4. Eat an egg and/or nuts and seeds every day 

Eating  two eggs a week halves future risk of Alzheimer’s (5). The best seeds are chia, flax, hemp and pumpkin. The best nuts are walnuts, pecans, and macadamia, but all nuts are a good source of protein and minerals.

5. Exercise outdoors and supplement vitamin D

Low blood levels of vitamin D make cognitive decline 19 times more likely. If your vitamin D level is high, Alzheimer’s disease is 4 times less likely. People who take vitamin D, which is especially important in winter, have a one-third lower risk. You can test your levels with a simple vitamin D test or as part of the DRIft 5-in-1 test.

Low Carb and GL – Eat a low-carb, low sugar, low GL diet

6. Avoid sugar and don’t eat junk food

Avoid the white stuff – flour, sugar, rice and especially ultra-processed foods. Fructose and high fructose corn syrup are common sweeteners. They are especially harmful to the brain. Read more about how sugar affects brain health in Is Sugar Killing Your Brain?.

7. Eat your fruit, don’t drink it

Stay away from fruit juices as they contain no fibre but lots of sugar. A glass of orange juice is worth three oranges’ worth of juice, but no fibre. Fibre fills you up. Learn more about the effects of fructose on health and the brain in this article on fructose.

8. Limit your intake of bread, pasta, and potatoes

If you eat more than 100 to 150 g a day of grains or potatoes, which is one or two servings max, your risk of dementia goes up .

9. Limit alcohol to a glass of wine a day or equivalent

Drinking alcohol, particularly red wine, can lower risk if done in moderation. However, the benefits are limited. . Abstinence increases risk, as does having more than 14 units of alcohol a week, according to a study in the British Medical Journal (6). Read more in The Truth About Alcohol and Your Brain

10. Add C8 oil to your coffee

The brain can run on either glucose or ketones, made in the liver from a ‘medium chain triglyceride’ called C8 oil. Two tablespoons of a C8-rich oil improve cognitive abilities and help provide the brain with energy (7).  Read more about MCT oil here.

B vitamins – Keep your homocysteine low with B vitamins 

11. Test your blood homocysteine level with a home test kit and supplement B vitamins if needed

A homocysteine level above 10 mmol/l, which is extremely common in people over 60, is strongly associated with accelerated brain shrinkage and increases risk of Alzheimer’s ten-fold. You can test your levels with at-home homocysteine test or as part of the DRIFT 5-in-1 test. Homocysteine is easily lowered by supplementing vitamin B6, B12 and folate but the amounts needed are much higher if your homocysteine level is high. Read more about lowering your homocysteine here.

12. Eat a serving a day of both greens and either beans, lentils, nuts or seeds

These are all high in the B vitamin folate as well as vitamin B6. A study in Holland gave 818 people aged 50 to 70 a folic acid supplement of 800mcg for three years, versus a placebo. At the end of the study, compared to those taking the placebo, those taking folic acid were functioning at the equivalent of being 5.5 years younger (8).

Antioxidants – Eat and drink anti-ageing antioxidants and polyphenols [4]

13. Eat lots of fresh fruit and veg

The more you eat, the better, though the benefits start to plateau at 500g a day, which is about five to six servings. People who ate the most greens had much less Alzheimer’s-related issues than those who ate the least.(9) . Berries are particularly protective, especially blueberries and strawberries. Read more about foods that help protect brain health in How to Keep Your Brain Young.

14. Drink Teash fruit and veg

The more you drink, the better as confirmed by a recent study from Singapore (8). However, other studies are conflicting (9). My view is to drink tea, green over black, in preference to coffee, and limit your intake to one or two cups a day.

15. Eat dark (70%+) chocolate

The benefit peaks at 10g, or about 3 pieces. More recent studies on cocoa, a rich source of flavanols, have shown improved cognition, possibly by improving circulation (11).

16. Supplement vitamins C and E – and don’t smoke!

A study of 4,740 elderly people in Utah found that those taking both vitamin E and C reduced their risk of developing Alzheimer’s by 23%.

Taking either cut risk by a quarter (12). Overall, a meta-analysis of vitamin C studies concludes thta supplementation lowers risk by about 26% (12). Smokers need at least twice as much vitamin C as non-smokers, just to have basic vitamin C levels in their blood. Smoking also raises homocysteine levels, another risk factor.

Learn more about Vitamin C and other antioxidants here.

Healthy Gut – A healthy gut is a healthy brain [5]

17. Eat plenty of soluble fibre and prebiotic foods

Fibre from foods like oats, chia, and flax seeds benefits our gut microbiome. Prebiotic foods like garlic, artichoke, leeks, and onions nourish and support healthy gut bacteria.

When you eat potatoes or rice, cook them ahead of time. Then, store them in the fridge. Reheating food increases the amount of prebiotics, also known as resistant starch.

Supplementing vitamin C helps promote lactobacillus and bifidobacteria.

Read more about gut health here.

Active Body – Exercise and keep physically active [6]

18. Get active for 20 minutes … and build and maintain muscle 

Spend at least 20 minutes doing activities such as walking, gardening, housework or repairing things – anything that gets you moving. Don’t limit yourself to ‘exercise’– anything that gives you a faster heart rate and engages different sets of muscles is good. Muscle mass best predicts both your brain volume and risk of cognitive decline in later years (13).

19. Get balancing!

The brain works hard in exercise, especially if it involves complex movements and learning, such as learning to dance, or doing different movements in a yoga or t’ai chi class or running or walking on uneven surfaces. The brain is processing a lot of information, triggering patterns of muscle movement and keeping you in balance.

For more on active body see Use It or Lose It. Why an Active Lifestyle is a Brain Essential

Active Mind – Keep yourself socially and intellectually active [7] 

20. Read, watch, or listen to stimulating content

A simple yardstick is to ask, ‘Am I learning anything? Am I using my mind?’ Reading books or listening to podcasts can be great ways to stimulate your mind, depending entirely on what you engage with.

21. Be social

Aim to spend at least two hours a week with other people in a social (not work) setting – groups, friends, family, etc.

22. Challenge your brain daily

Try challenging your brain with puzzles and word games such as Sudoku, crosswords or Wordle. You might also enjoy using a brain-training app. Two popular options with strong user ratings and research backing are BrainHQ and Lumosity, both designed to support memory, attention and processing speed.

23. Learn something new and challenging

Learning a new language, sport or musical instrument are all good – anything that you keep practising. This fascinating study looked at the brains of musicians and showed that amateur musicians benefited most (14).

Read more on hot to keep your mind active here.

Sleep and Calm – Sleep well, stay calm and live purposefully

24. Avoid alcohol before bed and limit any caffeine intake after midday 

Caffeine suppresses melatonin, which helps you sleep, for up to 10 hours. 

25. Aim to follow a soothing bedtime routine

Ensure your bedroom is quiet and dark and you are comfortable. Turn off mobile phones and Wi-Fi connections at night.  Prioritise relaxing activities in the few hours before you go to bed.

Read more about the powerful connection between sleep, stress and brain health in Sleep, Stress and the Brain, including why quality sleep is essential for memory, emotional resilience and long-term cognitive function.

So, while you do not need to implement all 25 things this week, think about what 2-3 things you could focus on this month.

For further support, monthly coaching and detailed personalised email guidance make sure you join us as a FRIEND so you get access to – your 6 month programme to help you upgrade your brain and improve your cognitive function. All for just £5 a month or £50 a year!

Food for the Brain is a not-for-profit educational and research charity that offers a free Cognitive Function Test and assesses your Dementia Risk Index to be able to advise you on how to dementia-proof your diet and lifestyle.

By completing the Cognitive Function Test you are joining our grassroots research initiative to find out what really works for preventing cognitive decline. We share our ongoing research results with you to help you make brain-friendly choices.

Please support our research by becoming a Friend of Food for the Brain.

.