Policy actions required to improve nutrition for brain health

Poor nutrition quality is acknowledged as a major environmental risk factor for brain problems and one of the few things that can be improved, making brain health an essential worldwide concern. There is considerable evidence showing that nutrition plays a crucial role in brain development and overall brain health throughout life. Despite this, the full potential of nutrition in enhancing brain function is not yet fully realized. This commentary by Higgs et al. (2024), based on discussions within the European Brain Research Area BRAINFOOD cluster, emphasizes the critical research priorities in the field of nutrition and brain health. It identifies three key issues that need to be addressed: (1) strengthening causal and mechanistic evidence connecting nutrition and brain health, (2) creating effective educational messages about the importance of food for brain health, and (3) securing funding to foster collaboration among diverse stakeholders. [NPID: nutrition, brain health, health policy]
Year: 2024