BTN News: Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia. It slowly affects memory, thinking, and behavior. As it gets worse, it makes daily tasks very hard. A new study shows that fish oil supplements may help older adults who are more likely to get Alzheimer’s. The study, published in Jama Network Open, found that fish oil can reduce brain cell damage in people with a gene linked to Alzheimer’s.
Lynne Shinto, a co-author of the study and professor of neurology at Oregon Health & Science University, said that fish oil could be especially good for those with the APOE4 gene. This gene makes it more likely for someone to get Alzheimer’s disease. The study showed that people with the APOE4 gene who took fish oil had less brain cell loss after one year than those who took soybean oil.
This new study supports earlier research. Past studies have suggested that eating more omega-3 or having high levels of omega-3 in the blood can slow down cognitive decline. Omega-3 fatty acids, especially EPA and DHA, help reduce inflammation in blood vessels. This helps lower the risk of heart disease. Dietary guidelines suggest eating omega-3 regularly, mainly from fish, to get these health benefits.
The findings of the study show the need for more research with a larger group of people, especially those at genetic risk. Gene Bowman, director of clinical trials and instructor of neurology at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, said this is the first study to use modern tools like blood tests and brain scans to find high-risk people and see who can benefit from specific nutritional interventions.
The study involved 102 participants aged 75 and older. They had low blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids. They had brain MRIs at the start and end of the three-year study to see changes in white matter lesions. Half of the participants took daily fish oil supplements with omega-3, while the other half received a soybean oil placebo.
The brain MRIs showed a slight reduction in white matter lesions in the fish oil group. However, this difference was not statistically significant compared to the placebo group. So, the study did not find clear benefits for all older adults. This means fish oil might not help everyone in this age group.
Calder, a researcher, said that the trial needed to be long because brain changes happen slowly. He suggested that the lack of statistical significance was probably due to the small number of participants. Still, the study offers hope that fish oil might help reduce Alzheimer’s risk for those with a genetic predisposition.
While we need more proof, this study gives hope that fish oil might help prevent Alzheimer’s. Older adults, especially those with genetic risk factors, might want to include fish oil in their diets. This could be part of a bigger plan to keep their brains healthy. More research with more people is needed to confirm these findings and to find the best ways to use fish oil for Alzheimer’s prevention.
Fish oil supplements have many benefits. They can help with heart health, reduce inflammation, and now possibly help with Alzheimer’s disease. Including fish oil in your diet can be a simple way to support overall health and potentially protect against cognitive decline. This study is a step in the right direction, showing that nutrition can play a key role in brain health. As research continues, we may find even more ways to use fish oil and omega-3 fatty acids to improve health outcomes for those at risk of Alzheimer’s and other diseases.
