A new study suggests that fish oil supplements might help older adults at high risk for Alzheimer’s disease by slowing the decline of brain cells.
In the study, older people with a higher genetic risk for Alzheimer’s saw a slower breakdown of their brain’s nerve cells when they took fish oil capsules. The findings were reported on August 1 in the journal JAMA Network Open.
These individuals carry the APOE4 gene variant, which raises the risk of Alzheimer’s and is linked to an earlier onset of the disease, as per the National Institute on Aging.
Researcher Gene Bowman, a neurology instructor at the McCance Center for Brain Health at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, said, “The fact that neuronal integrity breakdown was slowed in people randomized to omega-3 treatment who are also at high risk for Alzheimer’s disease is remarkable, and warrants a larger clinical trial in more diverse populations in the future.”
However, it was noted by the researchers that fish oil supplements did not benefit all seniors in general.
“Our findings showed that over three years, there was not a statistically significant difference between placebo and the group that took fish oil,” said Dr. Lynne Shinto, a professor of neurology at the Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine. “I don’t think it would be harmful, but I wouldn’t say you need to take fish oil to prevent dementia.”
For this study, 102 people aged 75 and older with relatively low levels of omega-3 fatty acids, the beneficial ingredient in fish oil, were recruited.
Fish oil supplements are believed to improve brain function in people with memory problems, according to background notes by researchers.
Participants underwent MRI brain scans at the beginning of the study and after three years to check for white matter lesions in the brain.
White matter lesions, which all participants had at relatively high levels, can hinder blood vessels’ ability to nourish brain cells, thus increasing the risk of future dementia, researchers explained.
Half of the participants were asked to take daily fish oil supplements, while the other half took a soybean-based placebo.
The MRI scans revealed a slight reduction in the progression of white matter lesions among those who took fish oil, but it was not statistically significant.
However, APOE4 carriers who took fish oil showed a significant reduction in the breakdown of brain cell integrity just one year after starting the supplements, compared to the placebo group.
“This is the first dementia prevention trial to use modern prevention tools, such as a blood test and brain scan, to identify not only people at high risk for dementia, but also those well-suited to receive a specific nutritional intervention,” Bowman stated.
Understanding Alzheimer’s Disease: Alzheimer’s disease is a condition that affects the brain, causing memory loss and other cognitive difficulties. The disease progresses over time and can seriously impact daily life. It is caused by the death of brain cells, leading to a decline in brain function. Key symptoms include memory loss, confusion, difficulty with language, and changes in behavior. Alzheimer’s is most common in older adults. There is no cure, but treatments can help manage symptoms. Medications, lifestyle changes, and alternative therapies like fish oil supplements are among the ways to treat and manage the disease.
Key Insights:
- Fish oil supplements may slow brain cell decline in high-risk seniors.
- APOE4 gene variant carriers showed significant benefits from fish oil.
- No significant benefit was found for all seniors taking fish oil.
- Larger and more diverse clinical trials are needed to confirm these findings.
Source:
- JAMA Network Open, August 1.