62% of school-age children and 85% of pregnant women in Israel have low iodine intakes, according to the country's first national iodine survey. Government funding and legislation, and a government-regulated program of salt or food iodization, are essential to reducing the deficiency, which poses a high risk of impaired neurological development.

Two Hebrew University scientists say a strain of passionfruit they have developed appears to contain effective antioxidants to prevent brain decay as people age. Prof. Alon Samach, professor of horticulture and Dr. Aron Troen, professor of  nutritional neuroscience,  say the new variety, code named “Dena,” has shown the ability to reduce oxidation damage in the brains of test animals and could show promise against the age-related breakdown sometimes implicated in conditions like Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s diseases.