BRAIN – Bio Regulation Algorithm and Integrated Neuronutrition Diet
The first TrialsofLife.net project is to research and publish an ADHD-focused dietary research paper and to test it during a randomized clinical trial in London 2025. Prior to developing our protocol, our team of researchers conducted a nine-month extensive review of the existing literature .
The scientific paper will outline the science underlying an algorithm designed to create a balanced and healthy diet with a focus on helping reduce symptoms for ADHD, bipolar and other neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative conditions.
For the research we covered :
- Research on neurodevelopmental and neurological disorders, including ADHD, bipolar, ASD (Autistic Spectrum Disorder), Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), AD (Alzheimer’s Disease), and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD).
- Reviewed 500+ scientific journals analysing the key biological and neuroscience areas connected to diet.
- Drafted a scientific review paper with 150+ normative scientific references (awaiting peer review)
- A Clinical trial protocol (to be published early 2025)
- Researched diets which have proven brain benefits i.e. Mediterranean, Green Mediterranean, Keto, MIND, DASH etc. We took some of those principles but applied a more biological systems focused approach, building a diet from scratch based upon ingredients and dietary strategies which best serve each biological challenge, be it inflammation, neurotransmitter production, insulin regulation etc.
- 1000+ hours of volunteer research (Paul Houston received part funding from the French government)
- identified dietary interventions across 8 biochemistry targets important to ADHD, bipolar and broader brain health.
The BRAIN diet focuses on :
- 🧠 Neurotransmitter synthesis and regulation: Supports dopamine, serotonin, and focus through Amino Acid availability and precursors for neurotransmitter and protein synthesis.
- ⚡ Mitochondrial Energy: Boost ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate), the cells energy source to increase mental and physical stamina. Proven to have been central to ADHD and bipolar disorders.
- 🍬 Glucose and Insulin Regulation: Balances blood sugar for mood stability and cognitive and emotional balance.
- 🔥 Inflammation and Oxidative Stress Mitigation: regulate the imbalance between harmful molecules (called free radicals) and the antioxidants that protect your body, reducing brain fog and neuroinflammation.
- 🔬 Methylation Cycles: Aids DNA repair, neurotransmitter metabolism, and detoxification.
- 🌿 Gut-Brain Axis: Optimizes gut microbiota for brain signaling.
- 🥑 Omega-3 Balance: Supports healthy brain membranes and flexibility.
- ⏱️ Hormonal Regulation: Manages stress and the HPA axis (Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis) your body’s stress control system.
The research lens we have adopted is not just to focus on substances and dietary practices that solely relate to ADHD but to address systemic problems that affect everybody, but which are particularly correlated to the ADHD population.
Only with such an inclusive and extensive sweep of this highly interrelated field will the answers and possible solutions be found. While many disorders share genetic and biological pathways, the key may not always lie in their direct connections, but rather in understanding the underlying causes they have in common.
Disorders such as ADHD and bipolar are rooted in multifactorial origins, so only a dietary strategy addressing extensive, targeted biological pathways has the potential to reduce the wide-ranging and often debilitating symptoms individuals with these disorders experience. Those same biological pathways affect everybody so the diet is designed to benefit everybody and particularly those that have any dysregulation in the targeted biological pathways and that is , from time to time, all of us.
With a diet that considers all direct dietary evidence for ADHD, bipolar, ASD, Alzhiemers and Parkinsons even, and combining it with systems biology theory-related dietary interventions the positive effects could be more than just moderate.
The diet will be cross-referenced against industry databases and entered as an AI algorithm for V1 of the diet within the publicly available healome.one AI application. Our partner CareForMe.io will provide the services and support staff for the clinical trial, including their pool of London-based loco nurses.
In summary, this will be a diet for the benefit of everybody wanting to improve their brain health, particularly those with ADHD and bipolar and other neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases.
It will be a diet that is sustainable, affordable and inclusive i.e. with vegetarian/vegan options. While protein is prioritised as key to neurotransmitter support, vegetable proteins are heavily featured for their sustainability and due to research showing that increasing vegetable proteins in the diet has cognitive and longevity benefits.
I would like to thank our team for all of their unwavering support and input, their expertise across all of the related fields has given us the multidisciplinary approach essential to create a truly unique and robust diet which stands a really good chance of making a difference to millions of people around the world.
We will publish a practical diet summary, light on most of the chemistry and supporting science, in the coming days so people can take immediate steps to implementing the diet.
Join Our Study: Interested in taking part? We are recruiting 50 adults with ADHD and 50 with bipolar, for a randomized clinical trial in London (2024) – sign up for more details below.