Can fish oil help prevent Alzheimer’s?

There may be something after all to the old saying that “fish is brain food.”

A study of more than 800 older adults has found those who took fish oil supplements regularly did better on tests of memory and thinking ability than those who didn’t.

They also had less shrinkage of the parts of the brain that form and retain memories.

That, researchers believe, is precisely why fish oil might just be another tool in the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease.

The subjects, studied for up to four years, were divided into 3 groups: those with normal cognitive function, mild cognitive impairment, and Alzheimer’s. Taking the supplements seemed to help the first group most.

The study adds to the healthy reputation of fish oil, which is also believed to benefit the heart and help those suffering from diabetes, depression and ulcers.

The main ingredient in fish oil that give it all those brain-boosting benefits is omega-3 fatty acid DHA. It is found in cold-water fatty fish including salmon and yellowfin tuna, as well as in eggs and milk.

Whether eating fish every day would have the same effect as taking a fish oil supplement hasn’t been shown yet, according to lead author Lori Daiello, a research scientist at the Rhode Island Hospital’s Alzheimer’s disease and Memory Disorders Center.

But it’s possible that remembering to eat fish more often might just help you to remember other things as well.

Sources:
“Fish oil boosts brain power” Elise Sole, July 16, 2014, Yahoo Health, yahoo.com