'Nutrition and mental health' opens series of public talks

A December 3rd posting from the University of Cambridge:

The effect of diet and physical exercise on the mood of teenagers will come under discussion at a free public debate in Cambridge tonight.

The event in the Michaelhouse Centre, Trinity Street at 6pm will give people the chance to question expert researchers on how teenagers' diet impacts on their behaviour and mental health.

The discussion is the first in a series of free talks offering the local community the chance to learn about some of the research currently taking place at Cambridge.

The events are being organised by the Festivals and Outreach team at the University and allows an open forum for discussion between scientists, researchers and members of the public.

Tonight's discussion looks at the ‘ROOTS' project which is working with over 1200 teenagers recruited from Cambridgeshire schools to examine the factors that can affect mental health in young adults.

The event will open with a series of presentations, after which there will be a open floor discussion about the group's work and the research methods used.

Nicola Buckley, Festivals and Outreach Co-ordinator said: “This a great chance for the community to learn about research at the University. The role that diet and physical activity have to play in mental health is a fascinating one, and this evening's discussion will provide insights into how what we eat is a crucial factor in understanding conditions such as depression.”

The speakers at tonight's event are Valerie Dunn, ROOTS Project Co-ordinator at the University and Caroline Stokes, of the MRC (Medical Research Council) Human Nutrition Research Unit.

The Roots project is speaking to 14-year-olds from a range of schools in Cambridgeshire. Using a series of interviews and questionnaires with teenagers and parents, the project will look at many aspects of teenage life including family, friends, interests, mood, behaviour, nutrition and activity levels. The project will also look at hormones and genes thought to be important for good health and success during the dynamic years of adolescence.

For more details click here.

Thanks go to John Devlin for bringing this posting to my attention.