The Food for the Brain Foundation’s Cognitive Function Test is set to play a central role in the UK-based ‘READ OUT’ trial, which is investigating blood biomarkers to improve dementia diagnosis.
The project, led by Professor Vanessa Raymont at the University of Oxford, forms part of the Blood Biomarker Challenge that aims to integrate blood tests into NHS dementia diagnostic pathways.
The Cognitive Function Test, developed by experts at the Food for the Brain Foundation, has already been taken by more than 200,000 people. The charity, the only one in the UK focussing primarily on Alzheimer’s prevention, says the test helps individuals understand their risk and what can be done to reduce it.
The move towards prevention comes after repeated failures of drug trials designed to treat Alzheimer’s once diagnosed. These have not produced clinically significant results and have been linked to adverse effects including brain bleeding, swelling and death. As a result, such drugs are not recommended or available on the NHS.
Alongside the READ OUT trial, the Foundation is launching the ‘DRIfT’ study, which will examine nutrition-related biomarkers to predict future risk and track improvements. The Dementia Risk Index functional Test involves a painless pinprick to measure omega-3 index, vitamin D, homocysteine for B vitamins, HbA1c for blood sugar control and glutathione index for antioxidant status.
Patrick Holford, the charity’s founder, explained: “We call these four fundamental processes the ‘four horsemen of the mental health apocalypse’. This is because the brain depends on these fats, incorporated into the brain by a B vitamin dependent process, which needs a balanced glucose supply.
“The brain then generates oxidative ‘exhaust fumes’ from burning sugar for energy. That’s why antioxidants in vegetables and fruit are also so important, along with omega-3 from seafood or plant sources and B vitamins, for brain health.”
Professor David Smith, former Vice Dean of Oxford University’s School of Medical Science, said: “The world is facing a devastating onslaught of dementia as populations get older and yet there is little, if any, effort by the authorities to prevent dementia. Instead of wasting resources on trying to develop a treatment, we urgently need to adopt the approach proposed by Food for the Brain and find the best ways to prevent the disease processes that lead to dementia.”
Participation in the research is open to all. More than 4,000 people have already joined, with Foodforthebrain.org aiming to enrol 10,000 by year end.
Volunteers will take the online Cognitive Function Test twice a year, complete a nutrition and lifestyle questionnaire and provide before and after blood samples via a home test kit. In return, participants will receive personalised guidance on reducing their future risk of cognitive decline.
