Middle-aged people who eat fish with lots of omega-3s improve their brain function, new research suggests
Middle-aged people – in their 40s and 50s – who often eat foods and especially fish with a lot of omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, sardines, cod, herring, tuna, etc., can improve their brain and mind function, shows a new American scientific research.
Previous studies have found something similar in older people, but the new research focused on younger people, showing that they too stand to benefit.
The researchers, led by assistant professor Claudia Satizabal of the University of Texas Department of Population Health Sciences, who made the relevant publication in the journal “Neurology” of the American Academy of Neurology, analyzed data on 2,183 cognitively healthy people with an average age of 46. Omega-3 levels were measured in the participants, who also underwent cognitive tests and an MRI of their brains.
It found that those who ate more of such foods that allowed them to have higher levels of omega-3s in their bodies, such as EPA and DHA, also had better average cognitive performance on cognitive tests, as well as a larger average volume of the hippocampus, the vital brain region which plays a key role in learning and memory. The worst picture both in the tests and in the hippocampus were those who consumed very little to no omega-3.
“Improving our diet is one way to promote our brain health. Our study shows that even a moderate consumption of omega-3 may be enough to maintain good brain function. Which is consistent with the American Heart Association’s current dietary guidelines of eating at least two servings of fish per week to improve cardiovascular health,” said Dr. Satizabal.
He added, however, that the study only shows an association between omega-3s and mental health, not necessarily a cause-and-effect relationship, and said its findings need to be confirmed by further research.
So far, scientists are not sure why and how omega-3s protect the brain and, by extension, the mind and its functions. One theory-explanation is that they help brain neurons work better, and another is that the substances in question have anti-inflammatory properties.
“The matter is complex. “We don’t understand everything yet, but as we’ve shown, the bottom line is that if you increase your omega-3 intake even a little bit, it protects your brain,” said the lead researcher.
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