title: Non-communicable diseases, mental ill-health: Is it a failure of the food system?
abstract: The rise in brain disorders and mental ill-health is the most serious crisis facing the survival of humanity. Starting from an understanding of the origins of the nervous system and the brain, together with its nutritional requirements, the present direction of the food system since World War II (WWII) can be seen as departing from the biological essence of brain chemistry and its nutritional needs. Such advances in the food system would lead to epigenetic changes. Improper maternal/foetal nutrition is considered in this manner to lead to heart disease, stroke and diabetes in later life. Is there any reason why the brain would not be similarly susceptible to a nutritional background departing from its specific needs? The changing food system likely bears responsibility for the rise in mental ill health that has now overtaken all other burdens of ill health. Its globalisation is threatening civil society.
authors.affiliation: Division of Reproductive Physiology, Obstetrics and Gynaecology; Imperial College; London; UK michael.crawford@imperial.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Michel A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Crawford
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D019649:Food Industry; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008603:Mental Health; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D014480:United Nations
chemical_list: D004041:Dietary Fats; D004044:Dietary Proteins
keywords: Adverse effects; brain; editorial; epigenetics; evolution; food; globalisation; health; mental health; mental illness; non-communicable diseases; nutrition; population