Why omega-3 for Alzheimer's?
Why omega-3 for Alzheimer’s?
We’ve seen the studies that suggest omega-3 fatty acids help prevent cognitive decline and dementia. But what is it exactly that makes fish oil so effective in preventing Alzheimer’s disease (AD)?
It’s all about the LR11 and the DHA – also known as docosahexaenoic acid – a type of omega-3 fatty acid.
In a study that appeared in a recent issue of The Journal of Neuroscience, UCLA researchers focused on LR11, a protein that is known to prevent the development of amyloid plaques that typically build up in the brains of AD patients. Many AD patients are deficient in LR11.
The UCLA team believed that DHA might regulate LR11, so they tested the omega-3 fatty acid in four systems:
- Primary rat neurons
- Aged mice
- Aged DHA-depleted mouse model
- Human neuronal line
In each system, DHA significantly increased LR11.
You can read more about DHA and Alzheimer’s disease in the e-Alert “Over Easy” (11/15/06), which also examines ARA, a type of omega-6 fatty acid (found mostly in egg yolks) that also helps maintain brain neuron function.
Source:
“Omega-3 Fatty Acid Docosahexaenoic Acid Increases SorLA/LR11, a Sorting Protein with Reduced Expression in Sporadic Alzheimer’s Disease (AD): Relevance to AD Prevention” The Journal of Neuroscience, 12/26/07, jneurosci.org
