Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of eating a diet rich in rich in fish, vegetables and olive oil on protecting the brain from tau proteins; and if his Department will undertake further research on that matter.

The Department commissions research through the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). The NIHR is not currently funding any specific relevant research but has supported the MedEx-UK trial looking at the Mediterranean diet and exercise, and dementia risk in adults in the United Kingdom.

In 2018, the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition found some limited evidence that greater adherence to a Mediterranean dietary pattern may be associated with reduced risk of mild cognitive impairment and dementia. Their report is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sacn-statement-on-diet-cognitive-impairment-and-dementia