Prevention is the cornerstone of public health and a critical factor in battling cognitive decline and dementia. However, to find out what really drives the prevention of cognitive decline, you have to ask the right questions. Since 2011, Food for the Brain has been at the forefront of this transformative approach, testing people’s Cognitive Function (410,000 to date) and unearthing key questions about diet, lifestyle, and medical history with the COGNITION questionnaire. Also, via dry blood spot analysis, key biological indicators – homocysteine, omega-3 index, vitamin D, and HbA1c for glycation.
The goal, by 2025, is to have data on over 1 million people, tracking their cognitive history over time, both retesting cognitive function annually and tracking dementia and comorbidity diagnoses. This data will offer researchers unprecedented insights into correlations between diet, lifestyle factors, medical conditions, biological measures, and cognitive decline leading to dementia to ascertain which factors most predict risk and are best targeted to enable prevention and which diet and lifestyle changes protect against cognitive decline.
At Food for the Brain, we actively encourage our participants to embrace the role of citizen scientists, directly contributing to our cutting-edge research on cognitive health. This unique partnership not only enriches our collective understanding but also empowers individuals to make meaningful contributions to our scientific community and database.
In an era where biobanks have become instrumental in advancing our understanding of human health, Food for the Brain stands out with its unique cognition-based database. This specialised repository goes beyond the broad-spectrum data collection typical of many biobanks, like the UK Biobank and NHANES, by focusing on the intricate relationship between nutritional intake and cognitive function, Alzheimer’s disease, and dementia.
Our unique cognition-based database is at the forefront of uncovering actionable insights into preventing cognitive decline and dementia. By integrating detailed nutritional data, lifestyle factors, and key blood-test biomarkers with cognitive performance metrics, we provide researchers with the tools necessary to delve into the details of how these factors influence brain health over time. This focus not only fills a critical gap left by traditional biobanks but also paves the way for innovative insights necessary to inform preventive healthcare strategies.
