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eat a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids - healthy fats found in abundance in oily fish such as salmon. - Can protect against premature aging of the brain and memory in middle age, according to a study published today in the journal Neurology
fish has long had the reputation of be a brain food. The new study, however, is the first to link omega-3 blood levels with brain shrinkage, mild memory loss and decreased cognitive function that are associated with a higher risk of developing Alzheimer ' Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia.
The study included 1575 people between the ages of 58 and 76 who underwent brain MRI, blood work, and various mental tests-function. Compared to those with the highest blood levels of omega-3, men and women with the lowest levels had smaller brain volumes and performed more poorly on tests of visual memory and abstract reasoning.
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"More omega-3, more performance," says lead author Dr. . Zaldy Tan, Alzheimer's researcher at the University of California, Los Angeles "We planned age, gender, education, body mass index, smoking status of the participants, and so on - and even after that, the relationship was still there. "
previous studies have found a similar link between omega-3 and dementia, but those relied on dietary surveys in which participants were asked to recall what they ate over a week or a month, a method that can be inaccurate. blood tests, on the other hand, show precisely how much of the healthy body fat a person has absorbed.
"this is the first time it has been correlated, so this is very exciting," said Dr. Gisele Wolf-Klein, director of geriatric education to the health system of the North Shore-LIJ in New Hyde Park, NY, who was not involved in the research. "This study will generate a lot more research"
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A smaller brain is not necessarily cause concern, since the brain naturally shrinks with age. But the study participants with the lowest omega-3 levels typical brain volumes of people two more years, Tan said.
in addition, people with low levels of omega-3 also tended to have more white matter accumulation in the brain. These so-called white matter hyperintensities were associated with a higher risk of dementia and stroke.
the results do not mean that people should stock up on fish or fish oil supplements, the other main source of omega-3. "do not read this study and to run store to get omega-3 tablets, "says Wolf-Klein. "It was not an intervention study that can be translated into clinical recommendations"
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dietary guidelines federal currently recommend eight ounces of seafood per week for the prevention of heart disease. (flax seeds and walnuts are excellent sources of omega-3.) Tan said that the contribution is "probably sufficient" for most people, but he notes that research has yet to determine what constitutes a normal good amount of omega-3 in the bloodstream.
"did you make supplements where you need to be? We do not know. Dr. Brian Appleby, a psychiatrist at the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for brain health, said that the observation is the biggest message to take home from the study.
"cardiovascular health is linked to cognitive health, "said Appleby, who was not involved in the research. "This study reinforces the need to tell people."
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