Fish Oils Help Keep You Sharp
Researchers found that mice that got a diet rich in docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) a component of fish oil, produced less of two proteins, tau and beta amyloid, both associated with the development of “tangles” in the brain associated with Alzheimer’s disease. (Green, KN, et al., J Neuroscience, April 18, 2007; 27(16):4385-4395.)
In another study, Dutch researchers looked at the role of diet and thinking ability in 210 men ages 70 to 89. The men were assessed in 1990 and 1995. They found that men who ate approximately 400 milligrams a day of omega-3 fatty acids (equivalent to eating one serving per week of fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel, sardines, tuna, or trout) were protected against age-related cognitive declines as measured by a standardized test called the Mini-Mental exam. (Van Gelder, BM, et al. Am J Clin Nutr 2007;85:1142-7.)
And a study by researchers at Johns Hopkins University examined omega-3 intake and decline in thinking ability in 2,251 men ages 50 to 65. The men were checked again 3 years and 9 years later. While not all abilities were preserved, higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids did help to protect verbal function –the ability to remain verbally fluent and to recall words easily. The association was particularly strong in men with high blood pressure or high cholesterol, which may mean the fish oil works because it was preventing age-related vascular damage in the brain, researchers say. (Beydoun, MA, et al., Am J Clin Nutr 2007;85:1103-11.)
Eating 3-6 ounces of fatty fish several times a week is one way to get omega-3 fish oil. But fish oil capsules guarantee a proper dose, without the environmental toxins found in some fish.
