Promoting brain health across the life course through diet
Editorial
Brain health is defined by the World Health Organization as “the state of brain functioning across cognitive, sensory, social-emotional, behavioural and motor domains, allowing a person to realize their full potential over the life course, irrespective of the presence or absence of disorders” (OMS). Thus, brain health concerns not only older adult at risk of cognitive decline, but also children, adolescents, and adults facing both physical and mental health challenges. This topic is increasingly recognized as a global public health priority across the life course.
Population ageing is expected to substantially increase the prevalence of dementia in the coming decades, while mental disorders already affect more than one billion people worldwide (GBD, 2023). In France alone, 41 % of adults report having experienced a mental health problem during their lifetime (Odoxa Mutualité française, 2024).
Brain health is influenced by a complex interplay of biological, environmental, and social determinants. Among the modifiable lifestyle factors, diet plays a key role. A growing body of evidence supports the benefits of healthy dietary patterns, particularly the Mediterranean diet, for cognitive and mental health outcomes, with more mixed but emerging evidence for DASH and MIND dietary patterns (Seabrook et al., 2025). These dietary patterns are rich in fruits and vegetables, which provide fibre, vitamins, minerals and bioactive compounds that may support neurocognitive function through anti-inflammatory and antioxidant mechanisms.
This issue of the Global Fruit and Veg Newsletter explores the contribution of fruit and vegetables to brain health at different stages of life.
The first article (Soans et al., 2025) is a scoping review investigating the impact of fruit and vegetable consumption on cognitive function in adolescents and young adults. Overall, higher intake was associated with improved cognitive performance, with stronger effects observed for whole fruits and vegetables rich in fibre and polyphenols. Evidence for fruit juice was less consistent, with some studies suggesting short-term benefits. These findings support the importance of whole fruit and vegetable consumption as part of a healthy diet during early life stages.
The second article (Wong et al., 2025) examines vegetable intake and psychological stress among pregnant women with chronic conditions. Higher vegetable consumption was associated with increased levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines, which are typically reduced in this population and linked with elevated stress levels. These findings highlight the potential role of vegetable-rich diets in reducing inflammation and supporting physical and mental wellbeing during pregnancy.
The last article (Chatzispyrellis et al., 2025) focuses on older adults and the link between polyphenol intake and the risk of dementia and cognitive decline. A dietary polyphenol pattern, characterized by lignans, flavonols and isoflavonoids, was associated with a slower rate of cognitive decline. Participants in the third quartile of this pattern had a 71% lower risk of dementia than those in the first quartile. As these polyphenols are mainly provided by cruciferous vegetables, pulses, and leafy vegetables, these findings support the consumption of diets rich in vegetables to improve cognitive health among older adults.
Dr. Jamie Seabrook is a Professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at Western University, with cross-appointments in the Department of Paediatrics and the Brescia School of Food and Nutritional Sciences. He is also a Scientist at the Children’s Health Research Institute, the Lawson Research Institute, and the London Health Sciences Centre Research Institute. He received the Award for Excellence in Research at Brescia University College at Western University in 2019.
Dr. Seabrook’s research focuses on the social and environmental determinants of child health disparities, the developmental origins of health and disease, and youth substance use and mental health.
Dr. Saverio Stranges is Professor and Chair of the Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics at Western University, Canada. He is a medical doctor, public health specialist and chronic disease epidemiologist, with extensive experience in the field of epidemiology and public health research. His research focuses on the epidemiology and prevention of chronic disease and aging across the life-course, specifically regarding the role of lifestyles, behavioral and psychosocial factors, such as dietary patterns, sleep behaviors and social determinants of health. He is also interested in global health, especially in the area of cardio-metabolic disease in low-resource settings, as well as in interdisciplinary research.
Throughout his career, Dr. Stranges has been involved in several international epidemiological studies, clinical trials, and systematic review work, and has published extensively with over 350 publications as scientific articles, reviews and book chapters. In November 2023, Dr. Stranges was elected as President of the Chronic Disease Section for the European Public Health Association. He is also Professor (part-time) in the Department of Clinical Medicine & Surgery, at the University of Naples Federico II, Italy, and Visiting Professor of Epidemiology & Public Health, at Humanitas University, in Italy. He is a co-Editor of the journal Nutrition, Metabolism & Cardiovascular Diseases, and Associate Editor for the International Journal of Public Health, European Journal of Public Health, and Sleep Health.