A new study published in the American Academy of Neurology confirms what we have long been saying on this site: there are fish oil brain benefits that you can reap from now into old age. The study notes that people who avoided trans fats and instead ate healthy diets rich in omega three, and vitamins C, D, E and B, experienced less brain shrinkage as they aged.
Why is brain size important? It’s an indication of the onset of Alzheimer’s and dementia. It seems that when researchers analyzed the brains of the participants who had MRIs, those who had more of the vitamins and omega 3 fatty acids in their blood scored better on cognitive tests.
There were 104 participants in all, and while vitamins and omega 3 indicated better memory, it seems that those participants with high levels of trans fast in their blood actually had begun to experience brain shrinkage and the resultant low scores on cognitive tests.
Fish oil brain benefits can be most easily achieved by increasing the overall amount of omega 3 in your diet, either by getting more fatty fish in your weekly menu, or by adding a fish oil supplement to your daily routine.
It’s also important to avoid commercial baked goods, fast foods, and prepared frozen dinners, all of which tend to be very high in trans fats and were seen to have an effect on test scores.
While scientists have not yet found a cure for Alzheimer’s and dementia, following these guidelines is a good idea for general health and also for brain health.
For more information on how the test was done, visit:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/story/2011/12/28/fish-brain-study.html
Should you and your family be taking fish oil?