Once again, a study proves that our diet has an impact on the health of our brain and may play a role in particular in the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. According to researchers at the Fatty Acid Research Institute, an extra intake of omega-3 DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) – naturally present in oily fish– could reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
Published on June 9 in the magazine NutrientsI’study involved 1,490 patients without dementia, aged 65 or over. They were followed for an average of seven years and performed various neurocognitive tests at the end of this period. “We found that an increasing proportion of omega-3 DHA in red blood cells was linked to a lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease and causing dementia“, indicates the study. A total of 131 patients were ultimately affected by Alzheimer’s disease. Patients with a higher level of omega-3 in red blood cells had a 49% lower risk.
A strategy “safe and profitableto prevent Alzheimer’s disease
The researchers also noted that increased intake of DHA may reduce the risk of disease onset. especially in people at high risk, including carriers of the ApoE4 gene, which approximately doubles the likelihood that an individual will develop Alzheimer’s disease. “Our results suggest that increased DHA intake may be a safe and cost-effective strategy to prevent Alzheimer’s disease in specific populations.“, confirms the study.
A discovery that could revolutionize the world of health. “Delaying Alzheimer’s disease by 5 years leads to 2.7 additional years of life and 4.8 additional years without Alzheimer’s disease for an individual who would have contracted Alzheimer’s disease“, said the researchers.
“Given that the estimated healthcare expenditure in 2021 for all patients with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias is $355 billion in the United States, any cost-effective strategy to delay the onset pathology is of vital public health interest“, they concluded.
Sources:
- Red Blood Cell DHA Is Inversely Associated with Risk of Incident Alzheimer’s Disease and All-Cause Dementia: Framingham Offspring Study, NutrientsJune 9, 2022
- Study shows people with a high omega-3 DHA level in their blood are at 49% lower risk of Alzheimer’s, EurekAlert!, June 9, 2022
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