Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, associated with a decline in brain function and memory. Alzheimer’s is increasing in prevalence due to the constant growth of the elderly population and currently there is no cure for this disease, making prevention of great importance.

Recently, it has been identified that omega-3 could help to prevent Alzheimer’s disease by improving brain function. Omega-3 has been linked to a number of health benefits, particularly in the reduction of inflammation throughout the body, and more recently it seems that it could also be crucial for keeping our brains healthy too. Omega-3 is an essential fatty acid that can be found in fish such as salmon, mackerel, sardines and tuna. It is essential for us to get this from our diet in order to keep our body healthy, so we should aim to eat fish at least 2 times a week.

New research by Witte and his team investigated the impact of omega-3 on brain function and structure in older adults. Half of the participants ingested fish oil for 26 weeks, whilst the other half were given a placebo. They found that ingesting fish oil had a positive effect on brain function.  Always be careful when considering the benefits of fish oil intake as some authors report concerns regarding increased risk of haemorrhage and potential heavy metal contamination.  Putting everything in balance, two to three portions of oily fish a week seems to be a good thing to do!

The  research above provides first time evidence to suggest that omega-3 could improve cognitive function, suggesting that a higher intake of omega-3 from fish could be beneficial for the aging brain as well as helping to prevent Alzheimer’s.

Adie Blanchard – Researcher

Reference

Witte, A. V., Kerti, L., Hermannstädter, H. M., Fiebach, J. B., Schreiber, S. J. et al. (2013). Long-chain omega-3 fatty acids improve brain function and structure in older adults. Cerebral Cortex, p. 163.