Omega-3 enriched foods were discovered by researchers to possibly aid in preventing the population rate of those people exposed in Alzheimer's disease risks. Omega-3 foods that protect the areas of the brain linked with the disease were then identified to be those common polyunsaturated fats found in fish, nuts, and seeds.
According to Mail Online, Omega-3 fatty acids found in food groups like fish, nuts and olive oil protect the parts of the brain which are responsible for memory and cognition. The fats were also mentioned to possibly help in the maintenance of the fornix as well which could aid in preventing Alzheimer's disease.
Aside from protecting the fornix which is linked to memory and Alzheimer's disease, Omega-3 foods also preserve the front parietal cortex, which is a part of the brain that is responsible for problem-solving. University of Illinois researchers then concluded the benefits of Omega-3 fatty acids from studying polyunsaturated fat through the blood of the people aged 65 to 75.
With that said, Science Daily reported that a study which was published in the Journal of Alzheimer's disease showed that 166 participants had their brain images analyzed through single photon emission computed tomography, or SPECT. The study then discovered that Omega-3 foods increase blood flow to areas of the brain associated with memory and learning.
"Although we have considerable evidence that Omega-3 levels are associated with better cardiovascular health, the role of the 'fish oil' fatty acids in mental health and brain physiology is just beginning to be explored. This study opens the door to the possibility that relatively simple dietary changes could favorably impact cognitive function," study co-author William S. Harris, Ph.D., University of South Dakota School of Medicine explained.
Omega-3 fatty acids were then said to be commonly found in flaxseed oil, walnuts, salmon, soybeans, and spinach. In which, these foods were mentioned to have anti-amyloid, anti-tau and anti-inflammatory effects in animals based on the study. The most common form of dementia was also described to affect 5.4 million people in the U.S. and 850,000 people in the U.K.
