Fish Oil Might Help Protect Against Brain Shrinkage And Alzheimers

A recent trial is highlighting the wonders of fish oil for brain health . nearly all studies focussing on diet and its effect on the brain use questionnaires or food diaries to obtain statistics but this study went a step further than that .

Scientists in the US from the Oregon Health and Science University in Portland analyzed blood samples of 104 elderly people who had an average age of around 87 and found that those who the highest levels of Omega 3 fatty acids including other vitamins performed on memory and other cognitive tests than those who had lower concentrations of Omega 3 fatty acids in their blood samples.

They also carried out MRI brain scans on 42 of the elderly subjects and discovered that those who had more Omega 3 and other vitamins had a larger brain volume than those with a lower level of Omega 3 fatty acids. At the other end of the scale, those who had eaten a lot of unhealthy fats in their diets and who didn't consume a lot of Omega 3 did not have good results on the cognitive tests and they also had less brain volume. Trans fats are found in fry ups, convenient meals and in cakes and biscuits. This would imply that a diet with enough Omega 3 fatty acids and low in unhealthy fats can help maintain the brain in good working order. The implication of this is that it will reduce the risk of dementia as brain shrinkage is linked with Alzheimer's.

It was researchers at this same university that in the past found that fish oil supplements did not help to delay brain decline in people who had already been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. There are plenty of previous studies that have concluded that a diet with plenty of Omega 3 fatty acids can help to prevent brain decline and dementia, however, there are mixed results about whether Omega 3 fatty acids can be effective for people who have already developed Alzheimer's disease. In the previous research by Oregon Health and Science University people with mild to moderate Alzheimer's were given DHA supplements but the researchers concluded that this did not slow down the progression of brain decline. DHA is just one of the Omega 3 fatty acids present in oily fish .

This latest study would appear to suggest that a diet rich in Omega 3 fatty acids and other vitamins can keep the brain healthy for longer and consequently reduce the risk of dementia. Omega 3 fatty acids can be found in oily fish such as salmon, tuna, sardines and herring or in fish oil.

"These results need to be confirmed, but obviously it is very exciting to think that people could potentially stop their brains from shrinking and keep them sharp by adjusting their diet" Said study author Dr Gene Bowman, researcher in Neurology at Oregon Health and Science University

Alzheimer's currently affects around 36 million people worldwide. The condition is characterised by progressive brain decline and ends in death.

The Daily Mail wrote that Dr Simon Ridley head of research at Alzheimer's UK welcomed the study although he noted the sample was small and the research did not follow up to see whether any of those taking part went on to develop Alzheimer's.

"Although there is no sure-fire way of preventing Alzheimer's yet" said Dr Ridley "we know that risk factors for heart disease and stroke can also increase the risk of dementia,"

"The best advice at the moment is to eat a balanced diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables, and keep healthy by not smoking, taking regular exercise and keeping blood pressure and cholesterol in check," he added.

"There is a clear need for conclusive evidence about the effect of diet on our risk of Alzheimer's, which can only come from large-scale, long-term studies.

"Currently 820,000 people are affected by dementia in the UK and with a rapidly ageing population, those numbers are expected to soar.

"We urgently need to find ways to prevent dementia if we are to head off a future crisis, and that means it's vital to invest in research."

The research has been published in the December 28th issue of the online Journal Neurology.