About this Event
Felice Jacka is a Professor of Nutritional Psychiatry, Director of the Food & Mood Centre at Deakin University, and founder and president of the International Society for Nutritional Psychiatry Research. Prof Jacka created the field of ‘Nutritional Psychiatry’, establishing diet as a risk factor and treatment target for common mental disorders. She has influenced clinical guidelines in psychiatry worldwide and is cited in over 100 policy documents (e.g., WHO, UNICEF). In 2021, she was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for her services to Nutritional Psychiatry.
Extensive evidence now supports associations between diet quality and mental and brain health across countries and cultures, and across the lifespan. This includes in early life; nutrition preconception and during pregnancy is of substantial relevance to emotional and cognitive outcomes in children. Experimental evidence also shows that dietary improvement is an efficacious and cost-effective treatment for even severe clinical depression. Mechanisms are many, but particularly include the gut and its resident microbiota. There is enormous potential for both clinical and public health interventions focused on nutrition for the prevention and treatment of mental, neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders. This presentation will briefly cover the existing evidence base and new studies and other activities being conducted at the Food & Mood Centre. The talk will address the issue of current global food environments and discuss the impact of Nutritional Psychiatry on policy and clinical guidelines.
Following the 1-hour presentation, light refreshments will be provided and there will be an opportunity for networking.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
BH 2-09 Lecture Theatre, Barbara Hanrahan Building, Level 2, University of South Australia (City West), Adelaide, Australia
AUD 0.00 to AUD 10.00