The DRIfT Test – Part of Global Prevention Initiative
The UK Biobank has collected data on 500,000 people since 2006, inviting people to fill in questionnaires, give blood and carry out certain tests.
Foodforthebrain.org, funded by ‘Friends’ who pay £50 a year, has collected data on 410,000 people, growing by about a hundred a day, and is now encouraging their ‘citizen scientists’ to give blood.
They have launched the Dementia Risk Index functional Test (DRIfT) which measures, from a single pin prick, homocysteineHomocysteine is an amino acid found in the blood. Elevated levels of homocysteine have been associated with narrowing and hardening of the arteries, an increased…, HbA1c, omega-3 index and vitamin DWhat it does: Helps maintain strong and healthy bones by retaining calcium. Deficiency Signs: Joint pain or stiffness, backache, tooth decay, muscle cramps, hair loss…..
In addition to taking the blood test, participants are invited to complete a validated online Cognitive Function test (not a questionnaire) which takes ten minutes, followed by a comprehensive 144 question Dementia Risk Index diet and lifestyle questionnaire. This works out a person’s future risk and shows what’s driving the risk. This is a free service.
Testing with Practitioners
Practitioners who wish to enrol their clients in this worldwide community initiative can ‘prescribe COGNITION’ which means they get to see the group results of their clients over time, and can also encourage them to make the right changes.
“Alzheimer’s is a preventable, but not reversible disease. Less than one in a hundred cases are directly caused by genes. Prevention is entirely possible if you can identify who is at risk early enough and encourage the right diet and lifestyle changes.” says Patrick Holford, founder of foodforthebrain.org, the UK’s leading dementia prevention charity which is running the prevention project together with Dr Tommy Wood, Assistant Professor at the University of Washington. “By tracking a person’s blood sugar, vitamin B, D and omega-3 status against changes in cognitive function over time, in addition to lifestyle factors such as sleep and physical activity, we can learn what really helps prevent cognitive decline.” says Dr Wood, the principal investigator for the study.
If you’d like to get involved visit foodforthebrain.org/prescribecognition/.
The DRIfT test is available from foodforthebrain.org/tests/.
All donations are put back into research, and the results of the research is shared back to people. “This is science for the people, funded by the people, shared back to the people. We call them Citizen Scientists and we hope to reach a million people around the world within a year or so making this the biggest prevention-focussed study of its kind.” Says Holford.
The purpose of research, says Holford, is to help people. “Too often great scientists do great studies, which get published and ignored. We have to face that fact that, in the UK as an example, the Government has commissioned four reports on mental health and Wellcome did a further independent report, all showing we have a cerebral tsunami with brain and mental health disorders ahead of every other disease. They have ignored every single one. Change is not going to come from the Government or the NHS. It is going to have to come from us, the people. I urge everyone in natural medicine to take the test themselves, share it with others and support the foodforthebrain.org initiative. ‘Friends’ donate £50 a year and get so much in return. This is how we are funding our amazing research team (see foodforthebrain.org/researchteam/). We are a lean, keen, small but mighty team. Every donation, big or small, goes right back into helping people prevent these preventable and terrible disease such as dementia. Together, we can change the world. We need to because time is running out. We will lose our humanity if we don’t stop this brain drain.”
What Next? Upgrade your Brain AND Become a Citizen Scientist
Thanks to already well over 400,000 ‘citizen scientists we have, with the sword of digital technology, opened the oyster to uncover the true causes – all under your control – that are driving this terrible and unnecessary brain shrinkage.
Those citizen scientists have taken the time, often initially for personal interest, to discover their actual cognitive function, and completed a comprehensive questionnaire.
We hope to reach a million people around the world within a year or so making this the biggest prevention-focussed study of its kind.
Change is not going to come from the Government or the NHS. It is going to have to come from us, the people.
We ask you to take control of upgrading your brain and in the process become Citizen Scientists for better brain health for future generations.
Follow these seven steps.
STEP 1: Take the Cognitive Function Test
What you’ll learn:
- Find out where you are on the cognitive function scale
- Learn the most important dietary and lifestyle actions you can take
- Take control of your mental wellbeing
- Contribute to the Food for the Brain research process
Take the Cognitive Function Test
STEP 2: Test for the Four Keystone Biochemical Processes
A consensus of world experts concluded that lowering homocysteine with B vitamins is the easiest and most cost effective prevention action, which Oxford University’s health economists estimate would save the UK £66 million per year.However, it’s vital to test both homocysteine and Omega-3 levels, as they are co-dependent. Homocysteine-lowering B vitamins only work in those with sufficient omega-3, and omega-3 only works if homocysteine is low.
So, get tested for the four keystone biochemical processes with the DRIfT Test.
It will calculate your Dementia Risk Index functional Test (DRIfT) score. Tracking this, along with your Cognitive Function (CFT) and Dementia Risk Index (DRI) is the most comprehensive way to protect your brain.
This 4-in-1 test measures:
- Vitamin D
- Omega-3
- Homocysteine
- HbA1C
More info – Drift Test from Food for the Brain and Other Tests.
STEP 3 – Get Educated
Read my book Upgrade Your Brain – Out Now!
More info & to order – Upgrade Your Brain Book
Join me on my UK or Ireland Seminar Tour – May/June
I’m visiting 30 cities in the UK and Ireland in May/June to kick start a nationwide ‘Upgrade Your Brain’ campaign.
“We need to engage with millions of people, get nutrition education happening in schools, and most of all get heath authorities and governments around the world to take the mental health meltdown seriously and put brain health at the top of the health agenda.”
Professor Crawford says “Today’s diet bears no resemblance to the wild foods we ate during our species’ evolution to which our genome is adapted. If we don’t prioritise brain health and nutrition the continued escalation of mental ill health, starting in the 1950s, can only end in disaster.”
Dates/locations: More tour info & how to book
Sign up to my E-News
Go to the home page of this website and sign up to my E-News for more blogs/reports/videos and podcasts on brain health. Follow on Facebook (PatrickHolford) and Instagram. (PatrickHolford.UK)
STEP 4: Start a Brain Healthy Diet
The Upgrade Your Brain cooking app with brain-friendly recipes will be launching soon. It will help you make the right food choices for your brain.
STEP 5: Ensure You Get Enough of the Right Nutrients
There are three essentials for building brain cells (neurons) – omega-3 fats, B vitamins and Phospholipids. Omega-3 is bound to phospholipids by methylationMethylation is what occurs when the body takes one substance and turns it into another, so that it can be detoxified and excreted from the… which is a process that is dependent on B vitamins – B6, B12 and folate.
There are some key supplements that have been identified to support brain health. In the Holford range these are:
- Connect: B vitamins and zincWhat it does: Component of over 200 enzymes in the body, essential for growth, important for healing, controls hormones, aids ability to cope with stress… to support healthy methylation
- High PC Lecithin – A Rich source of 63% phospholipid
- Omega-3 Support – 550mg of DHADHA is short for Docosahexaenoic Acid. It is an essential omega-3 fatty acid found in fish such as salmon, mackerel and herring, and is often… and 750mg of EPAEPA is short for Eicosapentaenoic Acid. It is an essential omega-3 fatty acid found in fish such as salmon, mackerel and herring, and is often…
All these are found in the Brain Food Upgrade pack
STEP 6: Spread the Word & Promote Prevention
We urge everyone to share the ‘prevention’ message with others.
You can do this by sharing social media posts and blogs/reports.
You can participate in Alzheimer’s Prevention Day on 15 May and encourage others to do the same. Take the free 3-minute online Alzheimer’s Prevention Check and get motivated to make the eight brain-friendly diet and lifestyle changes
“You are the architect of your own brain’s future health.” says neurologist Dr David Perlmutter.
Take the test for Alzheimer’s Prevention Day
Step 7: Support the ‘Prevention’ Work
‘Friends’ donate £50 a year and get so much in return. This is how we are funding our amazing research team (see foodforthebrain.org/researchteam/). We are a lean, keen, small but mighty team.
Every donation, big or small, goes right back into helping people prevent these preventable and terrible diseases such as dementia. Together, we can change the world. We need to, because time is running out. We will lose our humanity if we don’t stop this brain drain.”
All donations are put back into research, and the results of the research are shared back to people.
Give to Food for the Brain and support their work.
Comments
Join the Conversation on our Facebook Page