Food for the Brain Conference

Article Type: Conference reports From: Nutrition & Food Science, Volume 39, Issue 1

Organised by Food for the Brain, a not for profit educational charity, Mary Ward House, 5-7 Tavistock Place, London, 10-12 October 2008

This is a neglected area of nutrition and it was good to see a conference with this focus.

There was a range of papers on all topics related to brain function including:

• ADAH.

• Addiction.

• Alzheimer’s disease.

• Anxiety.

• Autism Spectrum disorders.

• Depression.

• Dyslexia.

• Schizophrenia.

Having worked with people with autism who have seen improvements with diet,this is an important area to cover.

There was a whole range of interesting speakers who covered such items as:

• Vitamin D, about which there is an increase in research as a lack is being recognised in respect of bone pain and fractures so the effect it has on the brain was a new area.

• Homocysteine is being recognised as an important aspect of coronary heart disease and it was interesting to have a presentation on its role in schizophrenia.

• A presentation on Folate and depression put a new perspective on the vitamin and brain function interaction in depression. Omega 3 fatty acids and depression also featured.

There was a small exhibition accompanying the conference of companies and organisations providing publications, support and products related to brain function and mental health.

For more information contact: www.foodforthebrain.org