How to promote brain health?
It is important to promote brain health because almost one-third of the total disease burden in Europe relates to brain disorders. We need to have people on board so that they can make the right lifestyle choices.
FAB RESEARCH COMMENT:
Most people want - and need - more accurate and easily understandable information on on how diet and lifestye can improve brain healthAnd more than 9 out of 10 adults would like more help and support from professionals in this area.
These findings come from a recent research survey, involving more than 27.000 adults in 81 countries. As the researchers note, 'brain disorders' already account for one third of the total disease burden in Europe - so the need for public health authorities to support and promote more evidence-based approaches in this area could hardly be more urgent.
The findings also illustrate the vital importance of FAB Research's aims and activities - which have always included
- providing free, evidence-based information to anyone wanting to know more about how food and diet can affect mental (as well as physical) health, wellbeing and performance,
- providing education and training for professionals and policymakers in areas including health, education, social services, criminal justice and allied areas - to improve awareness and understanding of the critical role of nutrition in brain health, and how that knowledge can be applied in practice
To find out more about our professional education and training activities, and how we may be able to help you or your organisation, please get in touch.
To access the full report, visit the Lifebrain consortium website.
For further information on this topic please see:
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01/09/2021 - Medical Xpress
People want clear, evidence-based information about exactly which lifestyle changes can improve their brain health, according to a new report from the Lifebrain consortium in collaboration with the Norwegian Institute of Public Health.
People want clear, evidence-based information about exactly which lifestyle changes can improve their brain health, according to a new report from the Lifebrain consortium in collaboration with the Norwegian Institute of Public Health.
People also say they would need professional support and regular monitoring or follow-up to track the effect of such changes.
Brain health is about your mental well-being and the ability to remember, learn, plan and concentrate.
The report is based on answers from 27,590 respondents from 81 countries who took part in the Global Brain Health Survey, which asked the public what they would need in order to help improve or maintain their brain health.
The survey is the largest worldwide study to date about public perceptions of brain health.
Key author behind the survey, Isabelle Budin Ljøsne at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, says:
"It is important to promote brain health because almost one-third of the total disease burden in Europe relates to brain disorders. We need to have people on board so that they can make the right lifestyle choices."
Key findings
To succeed with lifestyle changes to improve or maintain their brain health, the survey finds that:
- Close to all (95 percent) think that public health authorities should provide citizens with clear, evidence-based information on brain health.
- Almost nine out of ten (87 percent) would need professional support, either from their GP or a specialist.
- Four out of five (80 percent) would also need regular monitoring to review the effect of their lifestyle changes.
- Three out of four (76 percent) think the public health authorities should introduce relaxation activities and sports into schools and workplaces
- Three out of four (72 percent) also think that public health authorities should subsidisze healthy food and beneficial activities.
Sources of trust
People trust brain health specialists the most, and conventional and social media the least, for information about brain health. Only half have high trust in their GP. One of the Norwegian respondents said;
"There already exists lots of information on beneficial diet or lifestyle changes, but it is not always easy to know what works or how necessary they are. If there was an online database with evidence-based suggestions, advice, apps, etc., I would use it. It could for instance provide targeted information for different conditions."
Lead author of the report, Nanna Fredheim at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, says:
"The survey demonstrates to medical authorities the necessity of relaying accurate and easily understandable public information on brain health. This is clearly something people want and need."
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