Autism Spectrum Disorders: Dietary Approaches
Latest Evidence and Best Practice for Dietary Approaches to Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD)
The video recording of this event - together with downloadable handouts - is available
- FREE to FAB Associates (for other benefits of joining FAB as an Associate member - see HERE)
- Alternatively, this - and other individual FAB Webinars - can be accessed for a small fee via our FAB Webinar Library
A FAB Research Live Webinar and Q&A session
- with Dr Alex Richardson
In this webinar, Dr Alex Richardson provides a summary overview of key findings from the latest research into the relevance of nutrition and diet for the management of behaviour, mood and learning - as well as physical health - in ASD and related conditions.
Behaviour, mood and learning all depend on the health and development of the brain and nervous system. In recent years, however, research has confirmed just how fundamental the connections are between the brain, the gut, and the immune system - with each capable of affecting the other.
This not only helps to explain why many physical health problems - particularly allergies and immune disorders, and some gastro-intestinal conditions - are unusually common in children and adults with ASD and related behavioural conditions. It also helps to explain why, and how, nutrition and diet can play an important role in the prevention and management of both physical and mental health symptoms.
Find out more about:
- how diets high in sugar and refined carbohydrates, and lacking in dietary fibre, can harm brain health
- evidence that some artificial food additives, as well as specific food intolerances, can have negative effects on mood, behaviour and learning for many individuals
- the crucial importance of dietary fats - particularly the omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids - for healthy brain development and function
- key vitamins, minerals and other essential micronutrients often lacking from modern diets
- the potential benefits - and risks - of both common dietary patterns and specific dietary interventions, including ‘exclusion diets’.
Dr Richardson also discusses how this evidence can be used in simple, practical and effective ways to improve diet and nutrition in children and adults with ASD and related difficulties with mood, behaviour or learning -at home, in schools and in the workplace.
Hear from one of the world's leading experts in nutrition and mental health - Dr Alex Richardson.
Dr Alex Richardson
Founder of FAB Research, world-renowned researcher, author, and educator.
Alex Richardson, DPhil(Oxon), PGCE, FRSA, became interested in dyslexia and related conditions from her early work in teaching – leading to her DPhil at Oxford with John Stein (Neurophysiology), and Gordon Claridge (Experimental Psychology). The links she found then between neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders - involving not only vision, attention, cognition, but also allergies, immune disorders and other physical symptoms – led to her pioneering studies of omega-3 for conditions including ADHD, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Depression, Bipolar disorder, Schizophrenia and Huntington’s Disease; and for behaviour and learning in children from the general school population.
She is now one of the world's leading experts in nutritional neuroscience, with her 100+ publications including experimental and population studies with brain imaging, genetic, biochemical and psychophysical measures, as well as clinical trials of nutritional treatments for neurodevelopmental and mental health conditions.
Her book for parents and professionals, "They Are What You Feed Them" explains how children’s diets can - and do - affect their behaviour, learning and mood, and offers easy-to-follow, practical and evidence-based advice.
All proceeds from this event will go to Food And Behaviour (FAB) Research to support its work Registered Charity No: SC034604, Company No: SC 253448. www.fabresearch.org
"FAB has raised my awareness of the importance of a healthy diet for all, not just those with behavioural issues, problems."
- Early Years Officer, Local Authority
"FAB Research provides a wealth of valuable information which isn't always available elsewhere - and in an easily digested form."
- GP and Medical Advisor
What is FAB Research?
Food and Behaviour Research (FAB Research), established in 2003 by Dr Alex Richardson DPhil (Oxon), PGCE, FRSA, is a charitable organisation dedicated both to advancing scientific research into the links between nutrition and human behaviour and to making the findings from such research available to the widest possible audience.
Our mission: We are committed to improving current knowledge and awareness of the effects of nutrition and diet on human behaviour, learning and mood. We aspire to be a leader of scientific research into how nutrition affects the human brain and mind, and an intellectual and strategic force for improving public education and professional practice in this domain.